THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008
'Fill The Boot' For Kids This Weekend
Niles firefighters, Explorers from Post 28 and village employees will hit the streets this weekend raising money for their annual "Fill the Boot" campaign.
Firefighters and others will be found on the corners of Dempster Street and Greenwood Avenue, Oakton Street and Milwaukee Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue and Golf Road and in front of Fire Station #2 at Dempster Street and Cumberland Avenue.
Proceeds from the fundraising drive will support the Illinois Safety Alliance's "Camp I Am Me", also known as burn camp, and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
The Niles Fire Dept. is heading up the effort as part of a statewide fundraising day for ISA.
Niles firefighter Jim Leibach said the fire department has participated in Fill the Boot day for the last three years but has supported the burn camp for the last 17 years and before that supported a burn camp in Colorado.
"It's great to see the kids' faces light up when we come to visit (the camp)," said Leibach.
Leibach said the two-week camp for burn victims located in Volo, near Fox Lake, allows them to play with other kids without being self conscious about their condition.
St. Jude's Hospital is a large pediatric research hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
Leibach said that each year during the Fill the Boot days, they support the burn camp and one other charity in a 50/50 split of the money raised.