The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
Copyright 2006 The Columbus Dispatch
All Rights Reserved
Firefighters often have down time while on duty, and those hours of resting and recharging are no doubt important to balance out the stress that every fire and medic run brings.
Those who volunteer for Fire Fighters Against Drugs deserve the community’s special thanks, then, for spending some of their down time in a far less restful pursuit: keeping up with lively kids.
The 20 firefighters in the program adopt five Columbus elementary schools each year and take turns volunteering in the classroom.
They could claim a summer vacation from such work, but fortunately for the youngsters at Capital Kids day camp, they don’t.
The firefighters teach campers some of the things you’d expect, such as how to escape from a fire, when and how to call 911 and how to respond to strangers.
But the time they offer could be far more important.
Especially for children who need more attention from adults, having a firefighter teach them practical skills such as making a bed and tying a tie, or just taking time to play foursquare leaves a big impression.
One sixth-grader who struggled with reading at the beginning of the summer says that sharing a book each day with newfound friends from Fire Fighters Against Drugs turned her into a confident reader.
A 9-year-old boy said the firefighters act like no-nonsense parents, and that’s a good thing. “They’re like excellent parents -- they won’t let you talk back,” he said. More important, he says, “They treat everyone here like their own kids. I think they’d die for us.”
That’s the kind of appreciation a little investment of time can yield.
Similarly, police in Powell have learned that inviting village teenagers along on canoe outings and other fun events can build bridges between police and teens.
If such programs as Fire Fighters against Drugs and the Powell police outings can also build lasting trust, they’re well worth anyone’s time.