Several firefighters that are working on the front lines of the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs this week call Parker home. Cory Piper is just one of those brave firefighters who is serving our community faithfully. His wife, kids, and their friends knew that everyone wanted to help so she asked her husband what we (the community in Parker) could do.
Feed a Colorado Fire Fighter
He and his crew have been fighting continually. They are exhausted both physically and emotionally. Corey’s wife Gretchen and several friends coordinated a cash/gift card drive to buy food and supplies that the men and women need. If you were not able to make it to the fundraiser Grocery store gift cards, restaurant gift cards or cash would be greatly appreciated as the firefighters are able to buy exactly what they need often at a reduced cost.
“The outpouring was amazing! The stories… everything!”
The Piper family was just blown away by the generosity of the community and the stories, hugs, and tears everyone shared in front of the King Soopers at Lincoln and Jordan Road. In just 3 hours $941 in cash and $615 in gift cards was donated. One kid donated from his own allowance. Near the end of the fundraiser, a young man came up and told them that his house was untouched by the fire although everything around it was gone.
“He hugged me and my kids, couldn’t stop crying and saying Thank YOU and how greatful he was to my hubby and the firefighters.. we were both crying.”
If you weren’t able to make it to the fundraiser this afternoon the best way to help is to donate cash to the Colorado Red Cross. They can make your dollars stretch the farthest to help everyone involved including the evacuees and the now homeless residents of Colorado Springs.
The thank you card was signed by hundreds and stretched out over 10 feet by the end of the event. A new Facebook page has been added to let these brave men and women know how much we love and support them. http://www.facebook.com/ColoradoThanksFireFighters
If you haven’t yet done so, please sign up for Douglas Counties’ reverse 911 emergency service.
Additional information on the Colorado Wildfires in 2012
- Colorado Springs fire threatens the Air Force Academy
- Colorado community comes together to help homeless pets due to fires
- Colorado Springs fire doubled in size overnight Monument on pre-evacuation alert
- Colorado fire in Waldo Canyon claims one life 10 more missing in the Springs
- Colorado fire statistics for Waldo Canyon, High Park, Pine Ridge, Flagstaff
Dear Chrissy and Readers;
First, thank you for caring so much about a group of men and women you may not know personally. They are true heroes in every sense of the word for the reason we all imagine.
Second, Gretchen was not the organizer of this event. A family friend who loves them so very much took it upon herself to organize this event as her way to thank Corey and his fellow firefighters. It wouldn’t have been appropriate for Gretchen to do something like this, but she felt compelled to show up because her friend was doing something so beyond anything imaginable. In the end, beyond the money and gift cards collected, Gretchen felt overwhelmed by the love, support and sharing but the stories shared by the family displaced, the evacuated family not knowing the fate of their home, the son of a man whose house still stands all drove home for her just what her husband does each time he is on duty. Through her tears, the release of the stress she has been under not knowing where her husband was, is and what was happening was diminished as she was hugged and thanked.
Third, as Gretchen was given the money and gift cards to take to the firefighters, her husband expressed his sincere appreciation as he too is overwhelmed by the love of these strangers and friends, but he said that the collections need to be taken down to the Springs and given to those families who have lost everything. He refused to take the money and cards and Gretchen will indeed take these to the Springs to be given to families who need an extra bit of help in honor of the firefighters for which it was intended given in support of their efforts by family and friends.
Thank you for caring enough to cover this wonderful and spontaneous event and please know that these gifts will indeed be shared, as the firefighters wish, with those who need it so very much!
