Volunteer firefighters hosting toy, food drive

Hoping to brighten children's lives for the holidays, the Morgan County Volunteer Firefighters Association is sponsoring a toy and food drive for Hurricane Katrina victims in Ocean Springs, Miss.

On Nov. 19, from 8 a.m. until noon, firefighters will staff all 22 Morgan volunteer fire departments to collect new, unwrapped toys, said Van Geist, a volunteer with Cataco.

"We have two 18-wheelers donated to carry the toys on Dec. 10 to the Ocean Springs Fire Department," Geist said. "We will take gifts up to Dec. 9, but the trucks will be leaving that afternoon for Mississippi."

Geist, who is from the Ocean Springs area, said he spoke with an official there, learning their plight.

"Ocean Springs is a bedroom community of Biloxi with about 27,000 residents," Geist said. "They haven't received a lot of attention for the small area, and a lot are out of work. Some firefighters and police and families have lost everything."

On behalf of Ocean Springs first responders, the Morgan volunteers are collecting money to supply 86 firefighters and police officers with 100 turkey dinners with all the fixings. Volunteers have a refrigerated truck to transport turkeys, pecan pies and canned goods like candied yams and green beans.

During their monthly meeting Tuesday, the volunteers established an account at First American Bank in Hartselle and Decatur, called the Morgan County Volunteer Fire Department Association Christmas Relief Fund, to accept donations for expenses.

District 3 County Commissioner Kevin Murphy donated $1,000 from district funds to the association's general fund to help offset food and transportation costs.

Representatives of Air Evac Lifeteam donated $100; Excelliant, an emergency management consulting firm, donated $50; and Wal-Mart and Kroger donated $50 each.

Allen Lacy of 10-70 Fire, a fire equipment service, donated one of the tractor-trailers.

Geist said he thought of the idea after meeting an Ocean Springs evacuee at a local steakhouse.

"I came to the association and asked what they thought could be done," Geist said. "I've been beating on doors and getting it rolling since. I was afraid there wasn't much interest at first, but now it's beginning to fly."

For more information, call Geist at 778-9421, fire association president Terry McNutt at 773-1408, or your community fire chief.

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