Fill the Boot busts $10,000 mark on Black Friday

It's amazing what just a little pocket change can do.

After 10 years of receiving monetary donations from local passers-by, the Conway Firefighters Association Local 4016 flew past the $10,000 mark Friday for a new Fill the Boot record.

Djuna Dudeck of Conway donates to the Fill the Boot program. Charles Kimmel from the Liberty Volunteer Fire Department, along with his wife and son, collected donations at the Towne Centre in Conway on Saturday.

According to Firefighter Billie Carter, organizer of the event, there is no economic crisis when it comes to this annual holiday benefit for needy families.

"This is Conway and this is Faulkner County and around here there is no such thing as a bad economy as far as charity is concerned," Carter said Saturday. "Normally on Black Friday our numbers are high. Last year it was just shy of $6,000 and that was a pretty good day for us, so we're really happy this year."

With more donations than expected Friday and Saturday's numbers looking good, Carter said he foresees no trouble in providing happy holidays for the kids of Faulkner County.

"Right now we're in the middle of counting money and the second day is always slower than the first, but we are still right on average with last years' numbers for today," Carter said.

Charles Kimmel, a local firefighter, was stationed at the entrance to the Conway Towne Centre Saturday afternoon and despite the cool temperature, he said he was having a great time.

"The attitude of the community has been great," he said. "Everyone is smiling and waving at us and my favorite part is watching the kids go by who love to see firemen and can't wait to hand them a dollar."

His wife, Shirley Kimmel, said their family emptied quite a few boots before noon Saturday and added she was pleased to see so many people eager to stop and donate.

Patrick Kimmel was also out Saturday afternoon assisting his father and step-mother in their charitable efforts. He said the best part about volunteering is being able to help other kids.

"It's good to give to charities but this one is different because it's really fun and it makes us happy along with the rest of the kids we help," he said.

Ronnie Brewer, who was holding a boot at the Conway Towne Center along with the Kimmel family, said the group raised a total of $1,163 in that location alone Friday and he predicted a total of $800 Saturday.

Firefighters will be stationed at Conway Commons, Conway Towne Centre, First Security Bank on Old Morrilton Highway and Kroger on Salem Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 13, to accept donations from local shoppers.

Boots have also been placed at about 50 businesses across Faulkner County, including banks, retail shops and restaurants, so residents can pitch in to make sure local kids are healthy and warm this season, according to Carter.

"Once we collect all the money, all the firemen and most of their wives go out and make sure every kid on our list gets a shirt, a pair of pants, shoes and a toy and the family as a whole gets a food box" Carter said.

Carter added if the sense of generosity is as present throughout December as it was Friday, there may be a little extra money to go around this year.

"Those donations are going to allow us to do what we do every year and if we make more money than is needed, there are other charities that need help like Make a Child Smile and the Angel Trees so we may just wind up helping other groups, too," Carter said.

Although Carter said he was impressed with the fact that the boots have been running over with donations in the first two days of the annual event, he said he was not surprised.

"You're not going to find that kind of attitude and generosity in a lot of spots, especially with today's economy, but it doesn't matter if it's Hurricane Katrina or what it is, if someone's in need, Conway and Faulkner County step up like nobody's business," Carter said.

(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)