SGT . LORENZO DELK COLLECTS DONATIONS DURING THE ANNUAL WHAS CRUSADE FOR CHILDREN DRIVE .
verify that these businesses are in compliance with all fire safety code requirements and not a threat to the event participants ,” McCutcheon said . “ The day of the event , we are responsible for setting out barricades in coordination with the Jeffersonville Police Department , conducting inspections of every vendor , and coordinating with the safety task force to respond to all safety needs of the public .”
CRUSADE FOR CHILDREN FUNDRAISING Soon after he became a JFD firefighter , Sgt . Michael Osborne asked to be assigned the role of Crusade coordinator , and he plans to continue his efforts coordinating activities for the JFD firefighters to raise money for the WHAS Crusade for Children campaign . The Crusade funds agencies , schools and hospitals to better the lives of special needs children .
Osborne and firefighter Andy Conlen work together to plan how the department will raise funds for the Crusade campaign . The fundraising begins two weeks before the Crusade , which is the first week in June .
The JFD firefighters are strong supporters of the Crusade ; however , in 2020 , COVID-19 made it impossible to collect money on the streets and organize events to bring in charitable donations , while the need for the funds was more important than at any other time . Street collections are the department ’ s primary method of fundraising .
Conlen created a video appealing to community members to continue their donations and explaining how they could do so through the JFD . While many stepped up , the response was not what they had hoped . The video plea brought in approximately $ 15,000 , less than half of normal donations .
The past year was extremely difficult for many people , but the firefighters are hoping the Jeffersonville community will be able to come through for the children this year . The JFD collects funds for the Crusade yearround . Donations can be dropped off at any fire station or the JFD headquarters and it will be included in the next campaign .
CHILD OUTREACH THROUGH READ ACROSS AMERICA , FIRE SAFETY CLASSES The JFD participates in the Read Across America program . Read Across America is an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association . One part of the project is National Read Across America Day , an observance held on the school day closest to March 2 , the birthday of Dr . Seuss .
Last year , COVID-19 caused the schools to be closed ; however , the JFD didn ’ t want that to keep them
54 Jeffersonville Fire Department / 150 years