West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department (WRCVFD) urgently needs your help, now through July 5.

The late Charlie Mead ((link...), (link...), (link...)) was the energy, the driving force, behind the West Roane VFD's fireworks sales ((link...)). He instigated the sales, pushed for them, got them voted through, harangued and cajoled people to volunteer, arranged the contracts with fireworks suppliers, and worked many shifts in the fireworks tent during the actual sales.

With Charlie gone, the members of WRCVFD are still contractually obligated to go through with this year's 6/25 - 7/4 sale and besides, the department needs the money. Donations are down from about $53,000 last year to under $14,000 this year; fire and emergency medical (First Responder) incidents continue as usual.

West Roane VFD is appealing to members of the community who wish to support the fire and First Responder services, and to those who wish to do something positive to carry on in Charlie Mead's memory, to step forward and volunteer to help with the sale.

Charlie Mead wanted this sale to help West Roane VFD meet the needs of the community; he worked many days and weeks and months to make this and previous sales succeed.

Help is needed both day and night. The fireworks tent must be staffed around the clock for security reasons. In addition, July 5 is the day for wrapping up and cleaning up.

Please consider giving a few hours or days of service to help make this project a success, for Charlie Mead and for the whole community. Please call 354-5140 (best) or 354-1500 (to leave a message).

-- OneTahiti