Everyone has their own reason for giving.
But whatever the motivation, 91原创 is one of the most generous communities in the B.C., and Township of 91原创 Lieut. Andrew Penny has proof.
Year after year, 91原创 (both the Township and City) is ranked the first or second most giving community in the province for collecting the most money from Muscular Dystrophy Canada during the annual firefighter boot drive.
Penny said it鈥檚 always a friendly competition between 91原创 and Burnaby to see who can raise the most.
The title 鈥済oes back and forth鈥� between the two communities, said Penny, who is actually expecting 91原创 to come up a little short this year 鈥� because of a lack of volunteers.
Township of 91原创 firefighters were tied up for long hours last week fighting a stubborn blaze at Cloverdale Fuel in North 91原创. Consequently, that meant many crew members were not available to help with the boot drive, Penny explained.
If 91原创 comes up shy of the goal this time around, it鈥檚 understandable, he said. And they can always redeem their 鈥渕ost giving鈥� title again next year.
This fall鈥檚 boot drive started Friday and involved firefighters from all the Township firehalls camping out in front of several of 91原创鈥檚 larger grocery stores, McDonald鈥檚 restaurants, and some liquor stores.
The campaign wraps up tonight at about 9 p.m. with at least a few members at the government liquor store in the Willowbrook area until the very end, he said.
鈥淭he people of the Township of 91原创 are just so generous,鈥� added Penny, who has been a firefighter for the past six years.
Just to put it in perspective, he said his hall receives about a 120 pounds of change a day during the campaign, and it typically takes them two to three hours each night to count all the donations.
Last year, the Township of 91原创 Firefighters Charitable Society was able to collect $45,000 for Muscular Dystrophy Canada, explained firefighter Tim Payne, who was on hand holding out his boot Sunday morning.
鈥淲e just want to give a special thanks to everyone for their charitable donations to the Muscular Dystrophy鈥� we just want to say thanks to everyone who contributes,鈥� Payne said.
Penny also expressed gratitude to the businesses that allow the fire department to set up out front of the local shops with a few members and a fire truck.
One guy, who lost his home to a fire in the past month, stopped by earlier Sunday and dropped a $50 bill into Penny鈥檚 boot, sharing his story and expressing thanks to the team for all they did to fight the fire and try to save his home.
鈥淭he people who donated, half the time they don鈥檛 even know why they鈥檙e donating,鈥� Penny said. 鈥淭hey see the firefighters, they put money in the boot. Some of them know it鈥檚 for muscular dystrophy, same as when we do the daffodil campaign in April for cancer.鈥�
People invariably have a sense of trust in firefighters, and feel confident the money they鈥檙e collecting will go to a worthy cause.
鈥淪hoppers will come up when they see a firefighter, and they just know the money is going to a good cause,鈥� Penny said, 鈥渋t鈥檚 just that people want to donate.鈥�
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