Houston's volunteer firefighters are holding a combined pancake and garage sale Oct. 5 at the firehall as an inaugural event for a newly-formed group.
Although there's been a firefighters' association for years, this new venture called the Houston Volunteer Firefighters' Charitable Association is a specific group aimed at assisting other groups in the community, explained one of its participants, Shay Nichols.
"Our plan, by raising money, is to give money to groups within the community so that what we raise stays in the community," she said.
"This way people will feel comfortable about donating as they can see where their money goes."
Creating the new group with its specific focus will make things more streamlined and efficient, Nicholas added.
The charitable group at first decided the money it raised Oct. 5 would go to the Beanstalk Daycare's efforts to purchase and renovate a house. In the meantime, the daycare has received a substantial grant to meet its purchase and renovation requirements.
"Our plan is to still give some funds to them plus we're just building up our account at the moment. We haven't picked another cause quite yet," said Nichols.
The charitable arm of the volunteer firefighters has six members and more will be on hand at the pancake breakfast and garage sale.
For now, said Nichols, the firefighters will be providing garage sale items of their own and are not asking the public for help in gathering items.
"We don't want to get in over our heads too quickly, this just being our first [garage sale]," said Nichols. "We'll see what we get internally. And then I know we've had family and friends who now that this is happening and want to donate, and we've been accepting that way."
As to what she may donate, Nichols said she has yet to go through her house.
Houston fire chief Jim Daigneault said much the same when he was asked what he might donate.
"But this is a good opportunity to get rid of some of the clutter," he said.
The pancake breakfast and garage sale begins at 8 a.m. Oct. 5 and lasts until noon.
