Okaloosa Island-Members of the Okaloosa Island Garden Club raised approximately $10,000 for the island’s fire department, far exceeding the fundraising goal they set earlier this year.

The club produced calendars of Okaloosa Island Fire Department personnel and their pets, and they sold these calendars to raise funds to help the department purchase life-saving equipment.

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The Garden Club was founded in 1965 by a group of homeowners who wanted to beautify the island, said the club’s chairman Casey Foster. Although this is still the main focus, Foster said that over the years, they have found ways to go beyond gardening to beautify the community. This includes helping other people and organizations in need.

"The fire department helped us, and we want to help them," she said. "As far as community activities are concerned, we have always maintained a good relationship with them."

In May, club members visited the fire station to learn how they can help. One of the proposed requirements is a medical device called a laryngoscope. This instrument is used to visualize the throat and voice box, which can make advanced airway intubation easier.

Firefighters often use advanced airway intubation to restore the breathing of patients in car accidents. The device makes the process faster and more accurate. The cost of each laryngoscope is approximately US$3,000, and funding is sometimes limited.

The fire department is independent of the Okaloosa County Government, which means that it is funded entirely by the residents of the island through property taxes. However, approximately 82% of the resources of this sector are used by non-residents.

"That's people from Niceville, they might have had a car accident," Foster said. "This is the man who had a heart attack in an apartment in Illinois."

At a meeting after visiting the fire station, club member Susan Wall suggested creating a 2022 calendar to help raise funds to cover the cost of equipment. She volunteered to take pictures of the firefighters, and they accepted the idea as soon as they learned that their pet might be involved.

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Many photos are of firefighters with their dogs, and some of them are rescuers. Others are more unusual. A firefighter took a photo with him at the aquarium maintained by the station.

"They just like the idea that their pets are included," Foster said. "Some of them didn't want to do this. When the photographer Susan said,'I want a calendar with your pet', they suddenly melted."

Residents of Okaloosa Island purchased more than 100 calendars. When learning about the fundraising activities, several other people also intervened without any return. Many companies on the island also donated a total of US$10,000.

The extra 4,000 yuan raised has been allocated to a special fund for the department to purchase other medical equipment as needed. Foster said the firefighters are very grateful for their efforts and the community's support for the project is "incredible."

Foster said: "You have never seen a group of people who admire so much." "We don't think we can sell the quantity needed to buy equipment, but low, behold, this is overwhelming support from the community. It's incredible. ."