SHICKSHINNY, Pa. — Fire officials hope a bill moving through legislation will soon allow firefighters to solicit donations on roadways.
Times Leader reported that House Bill 138, introduced by Pennsylvania State Rep. Frank Farry, would allow first responders to take to the streets to collect money in boots or other appropriate containers.
Holly Morris, secretary of the Shickshinny (Pa.) Volunteer Fire Department, is hopeful that that legislation will go through.
“You can only have so many sales and dinners which draw on donations of local residents,” Morris said. “The boot drop provided opportunities for out-of-towners to drop in a few quarters, making it our biggest annual fundraiser.”
Morris, whose husband, Kevin Morris, is fire chief, said she was heartbroken when police issued citations to volunteers for interfering with traffic at an intersection during a boot fundraiser.
State Sen. Randy Vulakovich, a former police officer, said he recognizes the importance of the roadway fundraising efforts.
“Many volunteer fire departments have historically held fundraisers along roadways without incident,” Vulakovich said. “These types of fundraisers are often successful because they are highly visible to the community. Without such visibility, it can be difficult to attract attention for such worthy causes. Ultimately, this legislation would make the issue a local matter.”