From left, Lt. Josh Key, Shriner George Lovelace, Eng. Lee Coker, Shriner Thomas Brown and Lt. Bobby Wilson
photo by Mitch Talley
From left, Lt. Maurice Moody, Eng. Michael Blair, Shriner Jerry Leonard, Firefighter Samantha Splawn, Lt. Kent Cochran
photo by Mitch Talley
From left Eng. Austin Ridley, Eng. Scotty Tate, Lt. Allan Kendrick, Shriners Jim Warren and Seth Carter, Eng. Taylor White, Lt. Robbie Jones and Eng. Jordan Brown
photo by Mitch Talley
From left Eng. Jacob Chester, Firefighter Justin Hutcherson, Lt. Bobby Buhl, Eng. Chris Roberson, Eng. Keith Gray, and Eng. Allen Gallman
photo by Mitch Talley
Lt. Allan Kendrick and unknown family making donation
photo by Mitch Talley
Firefighters Armando Padilla and J.R. Foster.
photo by Mitch Talley
Firefighters Armando Padilla and J.R. Foster.
photo by Mitch Talley
From left Eng. Ryan Robbs, Lt. Jamie Franks and Shriner Thomas Coker
photo by Mitch Talley
Firefighter Charles Heard and Shriner Charlie Bailey
photo by Mitch Talley
Shriners Sammy Johnson and George Chastain and Eng. Sam Hammontree
photo by Mitch Talley
The new partnership between the Whitfield County Fire Department and Dalton Shriners – with a giant helping hand from local motorists - paid big dividends for youngsters last weekend.
The county firefighters joined forces with the Dalton Shriners for the first time ever, asking local motorists to drop donations into their boots during the inaugural partnership event known as “Whitfield Firefighters and Dalton Shriners Team Up for Kids.”
Residents dropped bills and change into boots on Sept. 17 at five intersections, including Cleveland Highway and the North Bypass, Cleveland Highway and Ga. Highway 2, Airport Road and Chatsworth Highway, Highway 41 and Connector 3, and Highway 201 and Highway 41.
The two groups praised motorists for their overwhelming generosity as they collected a record $20,015.99 in just four hours – nearly $3,000 more than last year and up about $5,000 over 2014.
“On behalf of the county fire department and the Dalton Shriners, I’d like to give a big thank you to all the residents who helped us set a record for collections in our annual boot drive,” Lt. Chris West said. “Because of your generosity, we will be able to help more young people who suffer burn injuries, and we can help make Christmas brighter for underprivileged children in our county, too.”
Seventy-five percent of the money collected will go towards treating young burn victims at Shriners’ hospitals, including one in Cincinnati supported by the Dalton Shriners.
The other 25 percent will go toward a new program for the Whitfield firefighters called “Santa in Uniform,” which will provide Christmas gifts for underprivileged children chosen by local agencies.
“We also want to give a huge thanks to Georgia United Credit Union and the ladies who counted all the money for us again for the seventh year in a row,” Lt. West said. “Thank you to Leticia Gonzalez, Stephanie Leon, Sheena Roberson, Eren Martinez, and Esmerai Caro.”
Over the past seven years, local residents have donated a total of $114,468 during the boot drives.