Boeing, chamber team up for gift to firefighter Christmas charity

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake firefighter and paramedic Mike Miner was truly shocked when the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce presented him on Wednesday with $5,000 to help his charity, the Firefighters for Kids Foundation, help bring a little Christmas cheer to some area families this year.

“Whoa!” he said as Chamber Executive Director Debbie Doran-Maertinez handed him the check. “Oh my gosh! I don’t know what to say!”

“It’s not that often that he’s speechless,” responded MLFD firefighter and paramedic Jason Pryne.

Miner, president and executive director of the foundation, said the money will be used to help get Christmas presents — including toys, clothes and stocking stuffers — for around 200 children and their families later this month.

“I grew up poor in the little community of Hillyard, and so I know what it was like having to use agencies like this, or have friends come in and help make Christmas special for us,” Miner said.

Sometimes his father could pick up extra hours in the winter to help make Christmas special, Miner said, but if he couldn’t, the family would frequently be on their own and out of luck.

“There’s families here like that in Moses Lake and we want to help out. There’s some families that aren’t going to get any Christmas except for us,” Miner said.

Doran-Martinez said the donation was raised through the Association of Washington Business’ Holiday Kids Tree Project, which raises money to help fire departments in rural Washington provide Christmas gifts to needy kids and their families. However, most of the $5,000 gift was donated by Boeing, which has a facility at the Grant County International Airport that includes its own firefighting service.

“We usually do a bunch of donations throughout the community,” said Casey Yeager, a Boeing firefighter. “Boeing firefighters have been great at helping spread the word.”

“We love to help the community, and help those in need,” Doran-Martinez said.

According to the Firefighters For Kids website (ffs4kids.org), the organization also helps families with children who have medical problems requiring long-term care, including providing meals and gifts. Miner said this year’s toy and clothing giveaway will take place at MLFD Fire Station 1, 701 E. Third Ave., in Moses Lake on Tuesday, Dec. 20, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information on Firefighters For Kids, or to make a donation, contact Minor at mminer@ffs4kids.org or visit the charity’s website.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com.

Correction: Casey Yeager's title was initially misidentified and has been corrected above.