To the editor:

The Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The Auxiliary was started in 1969 with six charter members. Shirley O’Neil is the only charter member still active in the Auxiliary, having served many years as president and currently serving as vice president. The Auxiliary usually has +/- 20 members, and after serving for 25 years you automatically become a Lifetime Member.

For 50 years the Auxiliary has helped the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department by holding several fundraisers each year which aid in funding new turn-out gear, equipment for the fire trucks, improvements to the building and grounds, etc. The Auxiliary has held numerous dinners, food sales and craft fairs over the last 50 years, including many years helping at the annual Labor Day field days previously held at the Bloomingdale ball field, during which our bread dough and french fries were very popular and our pie auction a huge success

The Auxiliary’s annual events include a sub sandwich sale each Super Bowl Sunday, a food sale and town-wide yard sale each June, a craft fair at the start of the holiday season, and pie sales, dinners or whatever event we come up with to raise funds occasionally throughout the year. One of our most recent events was a pie sale on Sept. 21, raising over $1,300, which will be used to purchase figure skates, hockey skates, helmets and hockey sticks to be donated to the Bloomingdale ice rink for use by the youth of our community.

At the Bloomingdale fire department’s annual banquet held the first weekend in May, the Auxiliary decorates the hall, distributes Auxiliary awards and hosts drawings for door prizes. For Santa’s visit to the Bloomingdale firehouse each December, Auxiliary members decorate the hall, serve refreshments and have activities for all children in attendance. Each child receives a gift and a small bag of goodies from Santa, and the refreshments and activities keep everyone busy while they wait to see Santa or after their visit with him.

The Auxiliary membership currently includes Nancy Heath (president and Lifetime Member), Shirley O’Neil (vice president, Charter and Lifetime Member), Sue Moore (treasurer), Cindy Amell (secretary and trustee), Ericka Moody (trustee), Vanessa Columbe (trustee); Lifetime Members Marsha Begore, Flo McGrath, Norma Howard, Valerie Oliver and Nancy Swinyer (Auxiliary and fire department); and members Tamara Swinyer, Donna Wilcox, Debbie Norcross, Davina Winemiller, Kathy LaGreca, Barbara Black, Sharalon Snickles, Anita Meserole, Cristie Heath, Cindy Woodson and Kathy Aubin.

Nancy Heath

Bloomingdale

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(Correction: An earlier version of this letter had Nancy Heath’s place of residence incorrect.)