Brooksville Fire Department Receives Check from Local Church

On Thursday morning, members of the Mission Board from the local Christ Lutheran Church presented a check to the Brooksville Fire Department. Alan and Terry Halladay met with Pastor Paul Meseke at the station on Veteran’s Avenue to award Fire Chief Brad Sufficool and District Chief Phil Hanson with a donation that amounted to $3,607 and change. The funds came by way of a best-ball golf tournament hosted by the church on January 20.

The money from the competition that was held at the Rivard Golf Club will benefit the department’s community outreach program moving forward. The church plans to continue its initiative next year when it holds another such event on March 1 at the Brooksville Country Club. The cost per player will be $75 and will include cart, green fees, and range balls, and the department will see those funds as well.

Terry Halladay, who helped develop the concept, is excited to give money to such a deserving cause, especially considering the funds would otherwise be coming out of the firefighters’ own pockets.

“I think it is going to a real worthwhile thing because these guys are out in the public and spending their own money, and it is to help them out,” said Terry Halladay. “They do not make all that much money. It is not equipment. It is not things like that. It is so they are out and about in the public.”

The fire department is committed to Community Risk Reduction (CRR) by not only responding to emergencies but being proactive in their approach as well. This includes a variety of programs focused on firefighter cancer, elderly fall prevention, mental health awareness, suicide prevention, drinking and driving, and drug awareness, among others.

If anyone is looking to show their support for the Brooksville Fire Department, the mission board invites citizens to either sponsor the annual tournament or even put together a team and participate next year. The members of the local fire station had to use their own money until Pastor Meseke, who acts as the chaplain for the local fire station, came to the mission board with an idea.

“[Paul] came to us and said, ‘Let us create a fund so they have got the money to do their outreach without taking it out of their own pockets.’ I mean, that is not fair in our opinion and that is how we ended up with them as our beneficiary,” said Alan Halladay.

The church also has an ongoing mission called “God’s Clothes Closet,” which provides clean clothing of all sizes for those who are unable to acquire these basic physical necessities on their own. The religious establishment features a welcoming atmosphere with teachings that center on the word of God and have ministries that meet the spiritual needs of their congregation.

Further information can be found on the Christ Lutheran Church website, clcfla.org, such as an event calendar and current prayer requests. Alan and Terry thank everyone for their support.