Darleene Barrientos
Instead of putting out the flames, Glendale firefighters will stoke
the fires at Whole Foods on Saturday during their barbecue to kick
off fund-raising efforts for their firefighters family assistance
fund.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents can buy a drink and a $5 plate
of food, including burgers cooked by Glendale firefighters, at the
market, 826 N. Glendale Ave. Tables and chairs will be provided for
a picnic-like atmosphere, Whole Foods Glendale spokeswoman Becky
Feliciano said.
The barbecue is their joint effort to remind people Whole Foods
will donate 5% of its proceeds Wednesday to the Glendale Firefighters
Family and Assistance Fund.
"They have been excellent to us as a fire department," Feliciano
said. "We feel a real connection and appreciation for what they do
for us."
Whole Foods works with a nonprofit organization at least once a
year to do such a fund-raiser, Feliciano said. In the past, the
market has held 5% fund-raiser days with local youth organization We
Care for Youth. The market worked with the department last year to
raise money for its family assistance fund.
"[The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks] raised our awareness of that
fund in the first place," she said. "It brought to our attention how
important the fire department is for the safety and the lives of
everyone in the community."
Glendale's assistance fund was established to receive the
donations that poured in after two of the department's firefighters
were burned in the 1996 brush fire in Calabasas and Malibu, Glendale
Fire Battalion Chief Mike Haney said. Haney is also president of the
Glendale Firefighters Family and Assistance Fund.
The donations help firefighters and their families if the
firefighter is killed or injured on or off the job, he said.
Whole Foods gave $1,850 after last year's event, Haney said. This
year is the first time a barbecue will also be held to kick off the
5% day, he said.
"People over the years have donated individually," he said. "Now,
our two main fund-raisers we have are the memorial golf tournament
and the Whole Foods event."
