The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

The Kiwanis Club of Cathlamet, in partnership with the Wahkiakum County Fire Protection District #4 and the Cathlamet Fire/ EMS Department, announced this week that $4,586.57 in donations had been received during the Firefighters’ Boot Drive held the weekend of February 2-3 in Cathlamet.

District 4 volunteers solicited donations at the entrance to the Cathlamet Chevron Station on SR 4.

Cathlamet Fire Department volunteers solicited drivers on Main Street near the Cathlamet Market, drawing attention with the flashing lights on their apparatus.

These efforts benefited the non-profit Kiwanis Doernbecher Children’s Cancer Program, which funds post-doctoral research scientists seeking ways to target heretofore incurable cancers in children via state-of the-art treatment.

“This year was a landmark,” Kiwanis President Dick Swart commented. “This is the first time that the club has been able to partner with two fire agencies to serve as mutual force magnifiers in fundraising for a respected charity. The results were amazing. Last year’s Boot Drive netted $1,435.67 with one agency. This year’s drive garnered $4,586.57 with two departments participating.”

District 4’s Chief, Jim Wilson, was pleased that his volunteers exceeded last year’s donations. Cathlamet’s Chief, Fred Johnson, expressed appreciation for the many donors who gave. Both Chiefs observed that it is an honor to serve a community that is so generous in contributing to fight difficult cancers that afflict and kill children. Swart observed, “The public’s acceptance of and generosity with this event clearly has a lot to do with the high esteem in which people hold our community’s volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service responders. The fact that the Kiwanis members and fire volunteers were having fun with the project was obvious to all who passed by. That no doubt helped the donation amount.”

Swart also expressed thanks to local artist, David Goodroe, who contributed his time, materials, and creative skill to making the professional-looking signs used by the fire agencies this year.

As reported in a January 31 Eagle story, Kiwanis will celebrate this and other successes at its February 19 potluck meeting at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church meeting hall in Cathlamet, from 6-8 p.m.

Questions about Fire District #4 may be referred to Chief Jim Wilson at (360) 795-3781. Questions about the Cathlamet Fire and EMS Department may be referred to Chief Fred Johnson at (360) 795-3367. Questions about Kiwanis Club may be referred to President Dick Swart at (360) 795-8444.