E. Dundee Firefighters Assoc. holds meat raffle

Holding public fundraising events these days takes creativity, determination and flexibility.

For decades, members of East Dundee Firefighters' Association have hosted at least one, if not two, fundraisers for the men and women who work for the local fire protection district.

Until five years ago, they had their annual summer festival, complete with carnival rides, games and corn bingo — a form of bingo in which uncooked corn kernels serve as markers on the bingo cards.

Association members also planned annual turkey parties in November, when turkeys, hams and bacon were raffled to hundreds of people who bought chances for 50 cents.

The carnival and raffle weren't just excuses to have parties; they were opportunities to raise money for coats, equipment, a van and a rescue boat the fire protection district could not afford.

But times changed and those events did not last. The turkey parties ended because their popularity outgrew the Third Street fire station where they were at. The festival ended because carnival companies stopped wanting to provide rides to small neighborhood venues.

To replace them, association members threw a barbecue and sold dinners to raise money. The barbecue lasted for two years, but will not continue this year, said Paula Roland, association secretary.

“We didn't do that well with the barbecue last year,” she said. “It's hard to ask people donate money when the economy is so bad. Plus, we held the barbecue on the same weekend as another local festival. It was hard to compete.”

But determination is still with East Dundee association members. They belong to a nonprofit organization who contends it is important to support the full and part-time firefighters and paramedics no matter what shape the economy is in.

What association members are planning won't be a carnival; it won't be a pre-Thanksgiving raffle. It will be a meat sale on Aug. 20 in Max Freeman Park along Third Street.

The sale will be similar to the November meat raffle, Roland said. People will buy tickets, a wheel will be spun and winners will receive packages of bacon, pork chops and ham.

“Association members had to plan something,” she said. “We want to give back to the community. Plus, we want to continue some type of public relations and education event.

“Association members realize it's important to go into the community and give residents a chance to meet them, touch a fire truck and learn about our fire safety programs.”

The hours of the meat raffle will be set in the coming weeks.

For details, call Roland at (847) 426-7521.