Firefighters announce ‘Fill the Boot’ total

By Brandi Makuski

Stevens Point firefighters are wrapping up another year of “Fill the Boot” fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Firefighters from SPFD spent Sept. 14 and 15 at the intersections of Division/Main and Division/Clark streets soliciting donations of cash and loose change from motorists at the stoplights, bringing in $14,700.21.

The fundraiser is hosted annually by the Stevens Point Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation, an arm of SPFD’s labor union, Local 484. This year, the group skipped its traditional press conference kickoff at Iverson Park announcing the fundraiser to the public.

“With the continued support of Mayor Wiza, Chief Moody, the City Council, the Police and Fire Commission, and the generosity of the Stevens Point community, we would not be able to raise as much as we do,” said Firefighter/Paramedic Jason Pettis, director of the Foundation. “For our Local’s size and money raised, we rank in the top 10 firefighter unions in the state by the Muscular Dystrophy Association…which is truly amazing and humbling.”

The fundraiser has historically brought in about $17,000 but dipped during COVID-19. Last year, the group raised $13,028.

Pettis said donations are still being accepted online here.

Funds raised via Fill the Boot go towards MDA research, and educational programming, and help send more than 40 local kids to an MDA Summer Camp at no cost to families.