Gurneys, guns or hoses? Macon County and Decatur first responders face off for a good cause
By Claire Hettinger
Herald & Review, Decatur, Ill.
DECATUR — Firefighters, police officers and other first responders typically work together to solve a problem. But for the eighth year in a row, one local event is pitting them against each other to see who can make the most change.
The annual Gurneys, Guns & Hoses bell-ringing competition to benefit The Salvation Army started Friday at Walmart North, Walmart East and Sam’s Club. The goal of this year’s two-day event is to raise $25,000, an amount that is set to be matched by a private donor. Five groups take part: Macon County fire departments, the Decatur Fire Department, Decatur Police Department, Macon County Sheriff’s Office and Decatur Ambulance Service.
Typically, the teams bring in between $18,000 and $25,000 over the course of the competition, said Kyle Karsten, director of development and community relations for The Salvation Army. He said it is especially meaningful for first responders to give their time to ring bells because they already help the community every day.
“It is so neat to see the grand total to see what those five groups are going to do for The Salvation Army,” he said.
Jennifer Sharpe, an emergency medical technician for Decatur Ambulance, and Dan Harper, a former ambulance service employee, were ringing bells at Walmart East on Friday morning. Sharpe said she is thankful for all the people donating because every dollar adds up.
“There are lots of friendly faces and lots of people willing to donate,” she said. “A lot of people say ‘Merry Christmas’ and say ‘thanks.’”
Sharpe wore a hat with blinking Christmas lights to show festive Christmas spirit, she said, but it is hard to compete with the firefighters who give out candy canes and dress up in their uniforms.
“It is a friendly competition,” she said. “There is no sabotage or anything like that.”
The Decatur firefighters said they win most years, and they have a trophy at the fire station to prove it, said Lt. Josh Jackson. It is a traveling trophy in the shape of a bell with the winning department’s name added each year.
Jackson said the success comes because everybody likes firefighters.
“People like firemen. They know if we come, their day is going to get better,” he said. “We are the good guys in town.”
The Decatur Fire Department has 30 to 40 members that volunteer for the event.
“People come out because it is fun, and everybody knows it’s for The Salvation Army, and it will stay local to help with clothes or the men’s shelter,” he said.
Firefighter Jason Bruns said almost everyone who left Sam’s Club was donating a few dollars or cents. The groups change location every year in case one storefront has an advantage, he said.
“The other groups complained because of the location, but wherever we go, we still win,” he said. “Everybody loves the firemen.”
The competition will continue until 8 p.m. today (Saturday).
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(c)2018 the Herald & Review (Decatur, Ill.)