We are Back…. Firefighter’s Bucket Brigade: July 13

The Firefighter’s Bucket Brigade is back! This is our 3^rd year the American Red Cross Disaster Volunteers and local firefighters and emergency workers have teamed up to support the American Red Cross. The Bucket Brigade raises vital funds to support Red Cross disaster relief and preparedness activities in Northeast Wisconsin. Last year, more than $18,000 was collected in our red buckets.      

On Friday, July 13 from 4:00pm-7:00pm local firefighters and American Red Cross disaster volunteers will be collecting donations in their red buckets at various high-traffic, high-visibility locations such as grocery stores, gas stations and retail stores.

This fundraiser highlights our partnership with local fire departments and how both groups work together to provide help and hope to disaster victims. Red Cross disaster preparedness materials will be distributed to the public, and fire trucks and firefighting equipment will be on display at collection sites.

We have 14 participating locations in six Northeast Wisconsin counties. This year’s participants include:

 Ashwaubenon:

Kwik Trip

871 Hansen Road

Bellevue:

Festival Foods

2534 Steffens Court, Green Bay

Green Bay East:

Copps Food Center

1819 Main Street, Green Bay

Green Bay West:

Festival Foods

2250 West Mason Street

 Suamico:

Festival Foods

2348 Lineville Road

 Pulaski:

Super Ron’s

960 County Road B

Abrams:

Abrams Shell Station

County D and Sampson Road

Abrams BP Station

2531 East Frontage Road

       Appleton:          

Festival Foods

1200 W. Northland Avenue

Grand Chute:

Copps Food Center

2400 W. Wisconsin Avenue

 Greenville:

The Meat Block &

The Stone Yard

N1739 Lily of the Valley Drive

Kimberly:

Pick N Save

850 East Maes Avenue

Sheboygan:

Festival Foods

595 S. Taylor Drive

Kiel:

                                                                    Piggly Wiggly

                                                              80 E. Park Avenue

Firefighters’ Bucket Brigade Spotlight on Brenton Ward

When local fire departments heard the American Red Cross needed help raising funds they stepped up to support the efforts again. This year increased need has exhausted the disaster response budget so their efforts are much needed. Local firefighters and American Red Cross volunteers have partnered together to ask the community to “invest in the positive” at the Firefighter’s Bucket Brigade for the American  Red Cross – TODAY!  Thursday, May 26, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. These dedicated partners, that support their neighbors in times of disaster, are partnering up to ask their community to be Heroes during this fundraiser.

We always want to know more about our heroes and partners so this year we are spotlighting supporting firefighters and  Red Cross Disaster volunteers. You might only see these partners together during a disaster response or during the Firefighters’ Bucket Brigade for the American Red Cross so we are happy they  took the time to answer our questions.

Brenton Ward is the Manager of Public Relations/Public Education with the Suamico Fire Department and was kind enough to answer our questions. 

When did you know you wanted to be a firefighter? Since I was a little kid.

What do most people not know about your job? The amout of time, planning and coordination that goes into making PR/Pub Ed events a success.

What are you most proud of?  That is a hard question.  I would have to say my girlfriend Kim and her Son, Trent.  They put up a lot of time taken away by me doing this.

Why are you volunteering to participate in the Firefighters’ Bucket Brigade? To give back to my community.

What have you learned about the Red Cross by working with them? Nice people, easy to work with.  They really do what ever they can to help people.

Who’s your Hero? And why? My Hero…..  Hmmmm….. That would have to be my Dad.  He has always been there and formed me to be the being I am today.

For more information and a list of Bucket Brigade locations across northeast Wisconsin, please visit http://www.newredcross.org.

Scenes from Firefighters’ Bucket Brigade for the Red Cross

Firefighters’ Bucket Brigade – WLUK – Fox 11 Morning Show Segment

Bucket Brigade event Raises money for Red Cross

Click HERE  for Video of Story:

Captain David Dellamann, Bellevue Fire Department and Jerry Prellwitz

The American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter is getting ready for its Firefighters’ Bucket Brigade.The event collects donations to allow the Red Cross to help disaster victims.

Red Cross volunteers and members of local fire departments will be at several locations in Northeast Wisconsin from tonight 5 – 8 pm to collect donations.

It’s a great chance for the community to learn about the partnership between the Red Cross and firefighters.

You can spot volunteers at the following locations between 5 – 8 pm tonight:

• Abrams Shell Station, County D and Sampson Rd, supported by Abrams Fire Department
• Bay Park Square Mall, 2401 S. Oneida St, supported by Ashwaubenon Fire Department and Austin Straubel Public Safety
• Copps Food Center, 1819 Main St.,  supported by Green Bay East Fire Department
• Copps Food Center, 2064 Lime Kiln Rd,  supported by Bellevue Fire Department
• Green Bay Plaza, on corner of West Mason and Military,  supported by Green Bay West Fire Department
• Infinity Wireless, 975 Main St, by Festival Foods in De Pere supported by De Pere Fire Department
• Olsen’s Piggly Wiggly, 2465 Lineville Rd, supported by Howard Fire Department
• Suamico Pro Bowl, 2310 Lineville Rd, supported by Suamico Fire Department
• Super Ron’s Food Center, 960 Country Rd B, supported by Pulaski Fire Department

For a $20.00 donation people will receive this shirt!

Pulaski Fire Fighters Kick off Bucket Brigade with a preview at Smurawa’s Country Bakery

On Saturday May 22, Smurawa’s Country Bakery hosted Pulaski Fire fighters and Red Cross volunteers for a preview event of the Firefighters’ Bucket Brigade on May 27, which will have several area fire departments and locations participating in the event to raise funds and awareness for local Red Cross services.

Greg Smurawa, member of the Pulaski Fire Department, volunteered to host the event at the bakery for a second time because he recognizes the importance of the services the Red Cross provides and the importance of the community to have an organization like the Red Cross to call on. He says, “everyone can tie the Red Cross to blood drives but unfortunately very rarely do people see the other needs and services of the Red Cross in the community.”

Greg says it was a great opportunity for people to meet the Red Cross outside of an emergency event. It was an opportunity, “for our customers gaining recognition and education while it was also for the Red Cross and fire department the opportunity to get out and meet the community face to face when its not an emergency situation. Its always a win-win for both sides.”

Bruce Brzeczkowski, Captain at Pulaski Fire Department, says the best part of the day was talking and meeting with people he might not normally get a chance to talk with while helping the community build a relationship with the fire department. “There were a lot of people coming in and out and a lot of people putting money in the buckets and that’s what we want to see.”

Judy Gregory, Emergency Services Director, says the community support and smells from the bakery were wonderful. All proceeds from packages of donuts were also donated to the Red Cross by Smurawa’s Country Bakery and the with a $20 donation or more customers received a Firefighters’ Bucket Brigade t-shirt.

Fire fighters and Red Cross volunteers got to meet many people who came in and out of the busy bakery. Residents got to see an up-close view of the fire truck. Always on call, the fire truck and its fire fighters did have to leave suddenly but came back shortly to finish off the beautiful day in Pulaski.

You can spot our Heroes at the following locations on Thursday, May 27 from 5 PM to 8 PM:

• Abrams Shell Station, County D and Sampson Rd, supported by Abrams Fire Department
• Bay Park Square Mall, 2401 S. Oneida St, supported by Ashwaubenon Fire Department
• Copps Food Center, 1819 Main St.,  supported by Green Bay East Fire Department
• Copps Food Center, 2064 Lime Kiln Rd,  supported by Bellevue Fire Department
• Green Bay Plaza, on corner of West Mason and Military,  supported by Green Bay West Fire Department
• Infinity Wireless, 975 Main St, by Festival Foods in De Pere supported by De Pere Fire Department
• Olsen’s Piggly Wiggly, 2465 Lineville Rd, supported by Howard Fire Department
• Suamico Pro Bowl, 2310 Lineville Rd, supported by Suamico Fire Department
• Super Ron’s Food Center, 960 Country Rd B, supported by Pulaski Fire Department

So What Does Investing in the Positive Mean to Red Cross Emergency Services?

As part of the Heroes Fundraising Campaign, local heroes are partnering together for the Firefighter’s Bucket Brigade for the Red Cross on Thursday, May 27 to ask neighbors to invest in the positive. To Red Cross Emergency Services, investing in the positive means helping neighbors help neighbors. Donations to the Red Cross support Emergency Services programs that play a vital role locally.

“The money raised from this event will be utilized to have funds available to support the immediate needs of families impacted by local disasters,” says Steve Maricque, Executive Director. “We are able to provide families shelter, clothing and food. The funds raised make that help possible.”

Between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009 Lakeland Chapter Emergency Services responded to 67 incidents helping 193 families with a total of 448 individuals. They have also provided mass care for 455 emergency workers.

The Lakeland Chapter serves an eight county area: Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marinette, Menominee (WI), Oconto, Shawano and Menominee (MI). There are over 450,000 people living within this jurisdiction that covers 5,746 square miles.

To serve the area, a dedicated team of Red Cross volunteers is trained to assist individuals who have been affected by disaster. “They need to be prepared that the disaster can happen at anytime and be ready to go at a moment’s notice,” says Jess Delaurelle, Disaster Volunteer from Green Bay.

“The disaster team is important because they are one of the first contacts that are made with a family to meet their immediate needs of food, clothing and lodging,” says Jess.

When needed, the  Red Cross also feeds emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to hospitals treating disaster victims, and helps those affected by disaster to access other available resources.

Val Szymanski, Disaster Volunteer from Little Suamico, can relate to some of the emotions felt by individuals who have experienced disaster; having personally been through two fires.

“You can give them food, shelter, and clothing but you’re not replacing what they lost,” says Val. Working on the disaster team is not always easy because you are helping people at their worst moment. It’s hard but it’s important to walk away knowing you made a difference.

Fire Chief Randy Wichalz has been with the Pulaski Fire Department for 35 years so he has memories of working with the Red Cross that go way back. The membership of the Pulaski Fire Department was happy to oblige when it was called upon to help with the fundraiser. “Whenever we’ve had a major fire we call them.”

“Its nice to have an organization like that to depend on,” says Fire Chief Randy Wichalz. “It’s easy for us to call the Red Cross for help but it was time to give something back.”

Investing in the positive means helping heroes in our community. Jess says she admires the dedication of Red Cross employees and volunteers. “No matter what is needed, someone is always there to help without concern of what they are getting in return.”

Firefighters’ Bucket Brigade Spotlight on CJ Brodbeck

When local fire departments heard the Red Cross needed help raising funds they stepped up to support the efforts. Local firefighters and Red Cross volunteers have partnered together to ask the community to “invest in the positive” at the Firefighter’s Bucket Brigade for the Red Cross on Thursday, May 27, from 5pm to 8pm. These dedicated partners, that support their neighbors in times of disaster, are partnering up to ask their community to be Heroes during this fundraiser.

We always want to know more about our heroes and partners, so we asked CJ Brodbeck a few questions. For the past 4 years CJ has been a Fire fighter and public educator at the Suamico Fire Department.

When did you know you wanted to be a firefighter? My involvement with the department was accidental. I graduated college with a degree in police science and through friends was introduced to it. From there I fell in love with it.

What do most people not know about your job? Not many people understand the prep work that goes into setting up an event including anything from a simple talk to a grade school class, or a village wide open house.

What are you most proud of? I’m most proud of my entire Dept. with all the training issues in the fire service right now something like (90%) of my Dept. is trained to a level 3 times of what is recommended by the fire commission. This comes with considerable time and involvement by each member.

Why are you volunteering to participate in the Firefighters’ Bucket Brigade? As long as I can remember the Disaster Volunteers have been at every major event not only for the victims, but also for us in the fire service so its nice to be able to assist them for a change.

What have you learned about the Red Cross by working with them? The Red Cross is made up of a bunch of folks that love their community as much as I do. Which is why we all do, what we do.

Who’s your Hero? And why? My hero would have to be my older brother. Apart from being a military veteran and excellent single dad, he always seems to be there when I have needed him.

Thank you CJ, for your love of your community. You can spot CJ and more of our heroes from the Suamico Fire Department on Thursday, May 27 at Suamico Pro Bowl, 2310 Lineville Rd.

You can spot our Heroes at the following locations on Thursday, May 27 from 5 PM to 8 PM:

• Abrams Shell Station, County D and Sampson Rd, supported by Abrams Fire Department
• Bay Park Square Mall, 2401 S. Oneida St, supported by Ashwaubenon Fire Department
• Copps Food Center, 1819 Main St.,  supported by Green Bay East Fire Department
• Copps Food Center, 2064 Lime Kiln Rd,  supported by Bellevue Fire Department
• Green Bay Plaza, on corner of West Mason and Military,  supported by Green Bay West Fire Department
• Infinity Wireless, 975 Main St, by Festival Foods in De Pere supported by De Pere Fire Department
• Olsen’s Piggly Wiggly, 2465 Lineville Rd, supported by Howard Fire Department
• Suamico Pro Bowl, 2310 Lineville Rd, supported by Suamico Fire Department
• Super Ron’s Food Center, 960 Country Rd B, supported by Pulaski Fire Department

Our heroes from the Pulaski Fire Department will also be at Smurawa Bakery, 204 East Pulaski St., on Saturday May 22, from 7 am – Noon.