It’s that time of year again when the Fire Service of the Lowcountry steps up to raise money for the Carolina Children’s Charity. Many of you out there have been part of this charity for your entire careers while some of our newer brothers and sisters have yet to learn of the wonderful work done by the CCC for our children in the Lowcountry.
The Charity has deep roots in our Fire Service family as Jonathan Kennedy was its first diplomat many years ago. Jonathan suffered many difficulties as an infant, a child, and as a young man and was not expected to survive beyond infancy. Due to the love of his Mom and Dad and supported by so many in the Fire Service, Jonathan lived into young adulthood. During his life, he made the Charity his mission and he encouraged all of us to do the same. He was an inspiration to us all and now, you see, it is time that we live up to his expectations when he would tell us “don’t be lazy”.
Even when we look deeper into the history of the CCC, we older firefighters remember when we raised money for another charity. That charity sent a great deal of the funds raised out of our community to fund programs in other parts of the country. In 1987, we, as a Fire Service, with many wonderful people here in Charleston, decided to start the Carolina Children’s Charity to raise and keep the money here in the Lowcountry to take care of the children and families in our own community. It has been a long and successful journey and hundreds of children have benefited because of it. But now, as society changes along with priorities, fundraising has become difficult to say the least. Plus, the demand on our time as first responders has limited our ability to raise money. Coupled with safety concerns for working in the streets and competing with the many other worthwhile charities in our community, we are facing a challenge to keep the CCC, our charity, moving forward. But, we don’t back down from a challenge. That’s why we are firefighters and that’s why we must find ways to fill in the blanks. Whether it is hosting BBQs, oyster roasts, running in the 5K race, standing in shopping centers with a boot in hand, answering phones at the phone bank, entering a corn hole tournament or simply supporting the many fundraising events held by the Charity each year, we must rise to this challenge and keep the CCC strong. We owe it to our children, we owe it to our community, and we owe it to ones like Jonathan and others who gave much of their lives to this amazing cause. The annual boot drive is coming up shortly. The annual corn hole tournament is right around the corner and there are many other opportunities to do your part. This is OUR charity and we can keep it strong. Come join us and let’s make Jonathan proud.