Harrison City firefighters raising funds for food bank, police toy drive

Harrison City firefighters are accustomed to holding fundraisers year-round, and this season they are helping the county food bank and a local toy drive.

“We’ve had a lot of support. We wanted to give back to the community. It’s nice that everyone is supporting each other,” said Brandon Quinn, a second lieutenant in the Harrison City Volunteer Fire Department.

The firefighters have been selling tip board raffles online since May under covid-19 pandemic restrictions, Quinn said. Now, some of their raffles are benefiting the Penn Township Police Benevolent Association’s Stuff-a-Truck toy drive for needy children and the Westmoreland County Food Bank.

Each of the “tickets” on the tip board raffle cost the purchaser $20, Quinn said. The department sold tip boards with 200 tickets, according to its Facebook page. State regulations for nonprofits operating games of chance require the organizations to distribute at least 60% of the revenue, Quinn said.

The fire department decided to donate $1,250 of the revenue generated by the sale in November to the Westmoreland County Food Bank, Quinn said.

“They have been very supportive of the food bank. We’re overwhelmed and really appreciate their support,” said Jennifer Miller, executive director of the county food bank in Delmont.

With the food bank able to acquire items at a discounted price, a $1 donation can purchase $10 worth of food in a grocery store, Miller said.

For the month of December, the fire department will donate $250 for each weekly 200-chance tip board it sells to the police department’s Stuff-A-Truck efforts.

Penn Township Police Chief John Otto said he was not surprised that the department joined in to help needy children.

“They (firefighters) are hardworking and are always raising money and volunteering to help people in the community,” Otto said.

The Stuff-a-Truck initiative recently collected a truck full of toys and delivered them to Penn-Trafford High School, where students in the Community Action Program delivered the age-appropriate gifts to children in need, Otto said. They also worked with churches in the township on their charitable effort, Otto said.

The police department is accepting toys and the anticipated donation for the fire department will help with future efforts to help needy families, Otto said.

Despite the pandemic and subsequent spike in unemployment, “this was our best year for Stuff-A-Truck. People felt the need and filled the truck,” Otto said.