Students help spark

Deep Gap VFD’s fund
By Melanie Davis
melanie@mountaintimes.com

The Deep Gap Volunteer Fire Department received a gift from the kindergarten class at Two Rivers Community School Monday morning.

The students raised $300 for the department’s Firemen Fund.

The fund provides financial assistance to members who become ill or have difficulty paying a utility bill.

The fund can be used for a community project. Donations come not only from the community, but also from the firefighters.

Two Rivers Community School is a charter school governed by a board of directors.

TRCS incorporates a curriculum of project-based expeditionary learning as the framework for its instructional programs.

These projects can be community based or an in-depth study of a single topic or theme.

The kindergarten class was visited in October by members of the Deep Gap department, as well as, Boone Fire Department and Meat Camp Volunteer Fire Department for presentations on fire prevention and safety.

Shortly after, it was time for the students to chose a project for their Community Helper expedition.

Teacher Vicki Krueger and teacher’s assistant Mimi Archer gathered several suggestions from the class and then the students voted on which project to undertake.

Collectively, the students chose to raise money for the Deep Gap fire department to say “thank you” for the presentation and their volunteer service.

The department was chosen because the school is located in its fire district.

The kindergarten class sold slices of pizza to the other students in the K-12 school on Fridays for several weeks.

The pizza fundraiser was a combined effort of three classes with the total amount raised split between them to be used on their individual expeditions.

On Monday, chief Mark Parsons and assistant chief Joey Parsons visited the school with a fire engine to accept the $300 donation.

The students lined up to personally thank the firefighters for their efforts, and were thanked by Chief Parsons.
“This is remarkable to see these young ones work so hard and raise this much money. They are an inspiration to us,” Chief Parsons said.

“The students have only met a few of the firefighters, but this money will benefit all of us in the Deep Gap department. What a wonderful effort.”

One student in particular was excited to see the fire engine. Brandon Parker told Chief Parsons that he was going to be a firefighter when he grew up because, “I want to ride on a fire truck and use the giant hose with lots of water.”

The Parsons were given a tour of the classroom to see the students’ artwork before driving away, giving the class a siren salute with the fire engine.

The students involved in the fire department fundraiser were Allie South, Ella Brown, Dharma Golden, Olivia Nicklaw, Fiona Marty, Samara Carlough, Maylin Miller, Brandon Parker, Jimmy Brown, Ethan Turley, Jaden Plude, Zeb Dickens, Harper Shanly, Colter Conway, Blaine Evey-Staley, Steely Forrester, Ruben Nelson, Dalton Stanbery, Rowen Todd and Hylee Whitley.