When you spend your life helping to protect your community, sometimes it’s nice to have that community return the favor.
That was the message sent loud and clear as part of a special car wash and bake sale fundraiser held at the Jefferson Township Fire Station north of Goshen Saturday.
The fundraiser was held in an effort to raise funds for the family of Shawn Gingerich, a volunteer firefighter with the Jefferson Township Fire Department who lost his home to a fire on March 9.
“We’re out here having a car wash and bake sale for Shawn,” said Dawn Covey, daughter of Jefferson firefighter Bob Fair. “He pretty much lost everything, and they had to start from scratch, so we decided this is what we’re going to do to show our support.
“They put their lives on the line for us each and every day, and so it’s time for us to step up and help them out now,” she said.
Chris Blackburn, wife of retired Jefferson firefighter Brad Blackburn, agreed.
“I’ve known Shawn for eight or nine years now, and he’s just a great guy,” Blackburn said. “His wife is phenomenal. She does a lot for our community schools. And they’re kids are great. My kids go to school with one of their sons. So when I got the call last Tuesday that it was one of our own guys, Dawn and I started organizing immediately.
“We’ve been doing a food drive. We’ve had clothes donated. Then on Thursday we decided to do the bake sale and car wash, and we’ve been working on it feverishly ever since,” she said.
And it appears the community got the message.
“Everybody is giving us donations. Everybody is doing everything they can do to help. I am very impressed with the community stepping up and helping out,” Covey said, noting that fundraiser traffic at the station had been nearly non-stop for most of the day. “Everyone is doing an awesome job. We had some lady come in here before we even started and donate a pretty big chunk of change, and all she got is a little plate of cookies. It’s pretty amazing.”
Blackburn was also impressed with the huge turnout Saturday, noting that the station even received help from firefighters outside of the Jefferson Township area.
“We’ve got firefighters doing the car wash. We’ve got kids of the firefighters helping. We’ve even got firefighters from other townships. I know we’ve got Cleveland Township, we’ve got Concord out here, Middlebury’s out here. We even had someone from Baugo. I’m really impressed with the response,” Blackburn said. “We’re just so happy that we’re able to help them out. We’ve had just random people coming in all day to donate, and we don’t even know who most of them are. It’s just an awesome feeling to see this kind of response.”
Local News
Car wash, bake sale aid family
- Local News
-
-
UPDATE: Goshen's Barrett Younghans recovering from heart transplant surgery
It was two days before Valentine’s Day when a Goshen teen-ager received a gift of a much-needed human heart.
-
Northridge students headed to state Science Olympiad contest
Heading to state? These students have it down to a science.
-
Amish-owned food markets seeing growth
Martin Schmucker is sitting on a brown plaid sofa at the front of his store, occasionally stroking his long, gray beard as he tells a story about a supplier from out of state.
-
IU Goshen Health names new CEO
Randy Christophel has been appointed the new chief executive officer for Indiana University Health Goshen.
-
Love still alive 50 years later
Even after 50 years of marriage, Goshen’s Ronald Nelson knows how to surprise his wife.
-
Church members building homes in Haiti
It’s been more than two years since a massive earthquake rocked the small island nation of Haiti. Recovery is far from complete, but with the help of a church in Waterford, it is getting closer.
-
After two-year wait, Goshen teen receives heart transplant
A phone call around 5:15 a.m. Sunday morning ended a two-year wait for a new heart for Goshen’s Barrett Younghans, 19.
-
Coat for a coat: Company gives back
Fifty Goshen girls have new coats today thanks to a new business.
-
Snyders enjoy a lifetime together
Shirley and Terry Snyder both grew up in Goshen and attended Goshen High School at the same time. Shirley, whose maiden name was Snook, said she was assigned a seat between Terry and his twin brother, Jerry, for all four years in the assembly class.
-
Young scientists compete in Olympic-style event at Goshen College Saturday
Science took center stage in Goshen Saturday morning as 13 area Science Olympiad teams converged on a snow-dusted Goshen College campus to participate in the 2012 Science Olympiad Regional Tournament.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches
Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury
Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
