Girl on Fire: Benefit to be held for local firefighters
[As seen in Creston News Advertiser, December 3, 2015]
Every day is a trying time at Creston Fire Department, but recently, it’s been more challenging than usual.
Two of my fellow firefighters are battling severe illness and injury, and we as a department have been doing all we can to help them and their families through it all.
Assistant Fire Chief Mick Landers was recently diagnosed with cancer. He has been recovering from surgery at home for the past few weeks. Firefighter Adam Leith is a part-time employee at the fire station. He suffered fractured lumbar vertebrae after a farming accident, had surgery and is recuperating at home.
In the spirit of the holidays and my coworker Ian Richardson’s column in the Nov. 17 edition of the Creston News Advertiser, I’ve collected several ways to help Mick, Adam and their families while they recover.
Monetary donations
All monetary donations will go directly to Mick’s and Adam’s hospital expenses. You can donate money through Creston Volunteer Fire Department by contacting Lee Freeman at 641-782-5610. You can also go directly to the Mick Landers and Adam Leith Benefit account at First National Bank in Creston. These donations are tax deductible.
Benefit
Creston firefighters are hosting a benefit for Mick and Adam Saturday at the Creston Elks Lodge. A dinner will be from 5 to 7 p.m., and the meat will be provided by Burnt Reynolds BBQ of Creston. An auction will be held at 7 p.m. by Darwin West of West and Frey Auctioneers. Music will be provided during dinner and after the auction by DJ Eric Shawler.
You can attend the benefit, which is open to the public, and bid on many different donated items. So far, the items include a wildlife print by Chancy Walters, two processed pig halves by Weaver Meats and $500 total in beef certificates from Bob Walter Family and Mittag Show Cattle, and Dave and Kathy Rieck.
Donated items
If you can’t attend the benefit and would like to donate an item to be put up for auction, contact Creston Fire Department. Our firefighters have gone around town handing out flyers and asking for donations, so if you or your business has not been approached, let us know. Any and all donations are appreciated.
These are just several ways to help two local firefighters, two people in Creston who have donated their time preparing themselves for incidents, fighting fires and saving lives. It’s what they do.
Contact the writer:
Email: bpoolman@crestonnews.com
Twitter: @iowafiregirl13