AVFD fundraiser planned

By Sam Waller

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department has two fundraising projects in the works, including the return of its Burgers & Birds cookout.

The event is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 at the fire station to celebrate the opening of dove season.

“We’ve done it in the past, and we got away from it because we didn’t have enough people in the event if we were dispatched out on a fire,” volunteer firefighter Alison Gardenhire said. “Our numbers are back up to where we can do the fundraiser even if we get called out.”

For a $10 donation, donors will receive a fresh-cooked burger, choice of chips, a drink, and a cookie. Meals will be available for dine-in at the Tischler Hall conference room or drive-through in the bays.

Also on tap is a T-shirt sale to be conducted through the department’s Facebook page starting in the next two weeks. Chief Travis Gardenhire said the plan is to allow shirts to be paid for with the Venmo app.

Gardenhire said funds are being raised for the purchase of a new pickup that would replace two vehicles that both need major repairs.

“We have a 1984 Chevy pickup that we use as our brush pickup and for quick attack on small fires,” he said. “We also have a 2005 Ford rescue truck. Our goal is to purchase a new pickup that can do both of those jobs. A new truck would have to withstand the terrain involved in brush fires, but also have storage space for our rescue tools.”

The chief said the next goal is to upgrade radio communication tools.