SPFD Explorer post finds wild success in first fundraiser dinner

By Brandi Makuski

Stevens Point firefighters know a thing or two about fundraising—a skill they put to good use on Saturday for their first-ever fundraising dinner benefiting a group of local students.

It’s also a skill they’re passing on to those students.

The steak and shrimp dinner, held at the Moose Family Center on Second St. North Feb. 24, was a fundraiser for the SPFD Explorer post, a hands-on foray into the world of firefighting and paramedic service for boys and girls ages 15-21. The program kicked off in 2014, and remains popular, according to firefighter Shane Westphal, with a current roster of 13.

Westphal, along with firefighter Jason Karpinski, are just two from SPFD who help run the post. Initially, both said no one was certain the fundraiser would be a success.

“We’ll just see how it goes,” Karpinski said. “If it works, we want to be able to start sending Explorers to different conferences, or schooling, throughout the country.”

Saturday’s dinner brought in many from the public; firefighters from multiple local departments, and their families; along with city council candidate Lynn Schulist. No sitting members of the council were in attendance. 

Several members of the Explorer post were present to help serve food and bus tables, and extra seating space had to be arranged due to a higher-than-expected turnout. 

Westphal said more than 120 came out for the event, which included several raffles. All told, he said, the event raised $3,500 after expenses. 

“This community really has supported us,” Westphal said on Saturday.