It’s been said that money can’t buy happiness, yet it sure can bring a lot of joy.
Just ask the folks with the Vacaville City Firefighters Charity Fund Inc., who have raised an estimated $500,000 since the charity’s inception in 2012 and first “gifting” in 2013.
“This goes back to our mission of bettering the lives of the community we serve,” said Capt. Matt Moreno, who is vice president of the organization and president of the Vacaville Firefighters Association Local 3501, which established the fund.
Capt. Will Linne, president of the fund, said its creation simply allows firefighters to lengthen their reach.
“Before we had the charity we were already doing a lot of similar things,” he said. Whenever a firefighter saw a need, he added, the aim was to address it.
“We were giving a lot and this expanded our ability to do more,” he advised. “We see it every day, people who need help.”
Firefighters meet a lot of people out on calls so they usually see people at their worst. When they can, they intervene.
They’ve helped with home improvements, brought food and toys and talked a landlord into giving a family a few extra days to fix their rental situation, among other things.
Firefighters, too, see horrible things and giving back helps them.
“This is our outlet, to make a positive impact, to truly turn around and make a difference in a person’s life,” Moreno pointed out. “You think you’re going to make an impact on them and they make an impact on you.”
Thanks to generous donations from the community, the charity has contributed to school programs, sports, academics endeavors, the Boys & Girls Club, Opportunity House, the NorthBay Cancer Center, Baskets of Hope, Merriment on Main and more.
The charity bid on animals up for sale through 4-H and FFA programs that may not have been bid on and donate the meat to O-House. Last year, the homeless shelter got about 50 pounds of meat.
The annual toy drive at Christmas aids local underprivileged youth.
As well, funding went toward building an elementary school in Paradise following the deadly and devastating Camp Fire.
Thanks to an amazing community, the firefighters said, they are able to do all they do.
“We can’t say enough how this community rallies around us,” Linne said.
Moreno agreed.
“It’s just unbelievable how much the community rallies,” he said. “It’s just a good representation of Vacaville.”
Last year, the fund was recognized by Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Solano, as being the most charitable organization in California.
The fund has now applied for nonprofit status and the goal is to to continue collaborations in order to give back.
“We’re just excited to see it grow,” Moreno said.
The pair thanks the firefighters who came before for showing them the way.
“It’s our culture to care,” Moreno said.
