Hats off to ‘Fill the Helmet’ success
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| Leon S. Peters Burn Center manager Sandra Yovino and local firefighters were among the many volunteers who hit the streets to raise funds burn survivors. |
Firefighters from around the Valley who organize the event, and Community Regional Medical Center nurses and volunteers, were out before the sun came up to collect cash, checks and change from motorists driving to work in cities from Fresno to Porterville.
“Within the first few minutes of starting, we had motorists drop by checks totaling more than $600 at our site on Blackstone and Shaw avenues,” said Peters Burn Center manager Sandra Yovino, who was instrumental in coordinating the event with firefighters. “While this is a fundraiser for burn survivors, it also gives us a venue to educate the public about burn prevention.”
Volunteer Mary Ghaffari, a burn center pharmacist, said one donor generously went out of his way to help when he jumped off of a Fresno Area Express bus.
“At first I wondered why he got off and ran up to us,” she said. “He took change out of his pocket and said, ‘I got off the bus to give you my donation.’ Then he hopped back on the bus.”
Some donors handed money out the windows of their cars, while others pulled into the parking lot with checks. One bike rider on his way to work waved his donation at Ghaffari, who laughed as she recognized Dr. William Dominic, burn center medical director.
Even some local business owners who were watching the morning news got into the giving mood by donating food and drink. Bobby Salazar’s dropped by breakfast burritos for the volunteers; Red Bull brought drinks; Hooters brought discounts for lunch. Community Medical Foundation dropped off water, donuts and coffee.
“I just want to thank everyone who volunteered to make this event a success,” said Yovino. “I’m so proud of the burn team who came out in force to support it.”
Looking down the volunteer roster, Yovino noted that about 90% of the non-fire volunteers were burn staff. But the firefighters were out in force too.
Chuck Leach, Fresno City Fire Captain and originator of the event, said firefighters from around the Valley have made it a tradition to make “Fill the Helmet” a success.
“There’s only one burn unit from Los Angeles to Sacramento and we want the Peters Burn Center to have the best equipment and facilities,” he said. “It’s a gem in our Valley no matter who needs it – one of our firefighters or someone in your family. This event helps ensure it will always be there.”
Yovino agreed and stressed it’s all about awareness.
“If we can prevent one burn injury from happening because people see the burn nurses and firefighters – they use more caution and we’ve done our job,” she said.
“Fill the Helmet” was held in:
- Fresno: Shaw/Blackstone, Friant/Audubon, Palm/Herndon, Blackstone/Herndon
- Dinuba: Alta/El Monte
- Kingsburg: Draper/Marion
- Porterville: Henderson/Prospect
- Reedley: Manning/Reed, 10th Street/I Street
- Sanger: Bethel/Jensen
This story was reported by Mary Lisa Russell. She can be reached at mrussell@communitymedical.org.