Gospel show helps VFD

A lot of funding for volunteer fire departments comes from fundraising in their individual communities. Nov. 10, Tharptown Volunteer Fire Department is hosting an event that will serve as a fundraiser for upgraded trucks and equipment.

Volunteer firefighter Melissa Baker has organized a gospel music show with Jeff Sanford and Jeff and Sheri Easter, set for 6 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Russellville City Schools Auditorium.

“A friend told me that Jeff and Sheri Easter are a good band and would have a good turnout,” Baker said. Sanford is a friend of Baker’s.

To be able to arrange for the Easters to perform, Baker said she personally went out and sought donations. The reason she is so passionate about this fundraiser is because of an incident that happened in August.

Baker was one of the first responders at the scene of an accident where a young man was pronounced dead on the scene. TVFD didn’t have the proper equipment to handle the situation and had to wait for the Russellville Fire Department to take further action.

“What if that young man had been alive, and we wouldn’t have been able to get him out of that situation? We had nothing to work with. I knew we had to do something,” Baker said.

Admission to the show will be $10 for adults or $5 for children ages 5-12. Children ages 4 and younger get in free. Tickets may be purchased in advance from Baker. She can be contacted at 256-627-2178.

Baker said the Easters will also be touring the volunteer fire department because they want to see what the proceeds will be going to and what their goal is.