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Firefighters Fill The Station Food Drive Hits Ten Year Mark

photo by Mark Bouvier Members of the Bristol Fire Department help to deliver the donations to the Have-A-Heart Food Shelf.

photo by Mark Bouvier Student and adult volunteers pitch in to unload donations from the 2016 campaign

photo by Mark Bouvier Harold Masterson of Bristol stops by the fire station with a donation.

Tuesday October 24, 2017

By Cookie Steponaitis

Ten years ago, the members of the Bristol Fire Department knew there was a need in their community that was not being met. The Have-A-Heart Food Shelf in Bristol that serves five communities was not getting enough food to cover the growing local need. Spurred into action by Bristol FFD Chief-retired Mark Bouvier, the Fill the Station Food Drive was born. “We are firefighters and we help people in need,” shared Bristol Chief-retired Mark Bouvier. “Whether it is a fire in a kitchen, a carbon monoxide detector or helping the Heart Food Shelf top off their shelves, we are there to assist.” Motivated by memories of his father who passed away in 1991, Bouvier and the department moved forward to start the annual drive. “My father was a POW in Germany in 1941 and he would never talk about his experiences, shared Chief-retired Bouvier. “After his father's passing, Bouvier learned that every Sunday after church, his father would make a donation to help those in the community that were hungry. ‘I know what it is like to go hungry,’ Mark’s father had remarked. ‘In this country, it should be impossible for people to be hungry.’ Bouvier saw this idea of the Food Drive as something his father might have done and approved of.”
    The first year Bristol Fire Department brought in over 3,000 pounds of food and cash donations. The department conducted a mailing, hung paper bags with reminders of what foods were needed and volunteered time to be at the stores on the scheduled day. Over time the event has grown not only in scope but in focus and need. “What was once the drive just to backfill and top off the shelves for the Have-A-Heart Food Shelf has become their primary drive that gets them through the winter,” explained Chief-retired Bouvier. The Bristol Fire Department reached out to Lincoln, Monkton, New Haven and Starksboro Fire Departments in 2014 and asked them to join in. Since Have-A- Heart Food Shelf serves people in all the five towns it seemed fitting to coordinate the efforts. The teachers of the Addison Northeast Teachers Association also joined and annually contribute several hundreds of pounds to the food total and monetary donation.
    During 2015, 4,560 pounds of food and $1,000.00 was donated. The following year donations increased to 4,630 pounds of food and $1,571.00 in money donated. The goal for this year is to break the 5,000 pounds mark and raise at least $1600.00 in donated funds. The Fill the Station Food Drive is in its tenth year and has collected and delivered between 30,000-40,000 pounds of food. The Bristol Fire Department is seeking everyone’s assistance in the five towns and will open their doors from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on October 28th and will also have trucks at local stores. Posters in Shaw’s and other locations will have lists including types of non-perishable items, personal care products and other ideas to help the food shelf meet the growing need. The Bristol Fire Department wants to thank Jodi Lathrop of Lathrop Wood Products in Bristol for opening up her scales for weighing in of the food items and Becky Price, who spearheads the Have A Heart Food shelf for printing up 200 sheets of paper with lists of suggestions and her hard work all year long to help people. Each can, item, coin and dollar helps and counts.
    While summer seems to have stayed late this year signs of winter are apparent and will soon herald the season’s arrival. October 28th is a way to celebrate community, help others and continue a legacy that is growing each year. “Every amount helps,” concluded Bristol Chief-retired Bouvier. “The firefighters take this seriously and know that all food collected directly benefits the five towns reached by the Have-A-Heart Food Shelf.” The Valley Voice encourages you to stop in on October 28th or reach out to your local fire department. Any group can join in and all will be thanked for helping others. Hunger does not take a season off and this drive is critical to helping with the cold months ahead.
 “Fill The Firehouse!”
2017 Five-Town Fire Department Food Drive
Saturday – October 28, 2017- 9:00 am to Noon
SUGGESTED ITEMS for DONATIONS: · Coffee, Cranberry Sauce, Stuffing, Turkey Gravy, Pumpkin Pie Filling, Spaghetti Sauce & Pasta, Peanut Butter, Cereal, Tuna, Veggies, Rice, Beans, Soup, Pasta, Pickles, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Laundry Soap Bar Soap, Dish Soap, Deodorant Shampoo, Conditioner, Toilet Paper, and Pet Food.

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