THIS MUST BE THE PLACE … The Metamora-Amboy Fire Hall was the site of its department’s 89th Feather Party fundraiser last week, an annual event that raises money for resources not covered by standard funding.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Rain and cold didn’t tamp down the community spirit at the Metamora-Amboy Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Feather Party fundraiser last week.
More than 225 people packed the fire hall for the event, which included various raffles, games, and drawings, including everything from baskets of safety products, grills, and tools to designer purses and cake.
Fire Chief Jessica Geer was in attendance, enjoying her third year overseeing the event as chief and her 19th year with the department.
“We have been raffling off turkeys and hams for 89 years to the community, we’ve added basket raffles, the cake wheel that’s back this year as well as the big six wheel, we do 50-50s, and we do door prizes,” Geer said.
Funds raised at the event supplement existing funds that cover administrative costs, capital projects and the like.
“We use it for equipment or any other needs we might have,” she said. “So this actually goes to the association, so it’s not actually for the trustees – they are responsible for the bigger ticket items. This is for something that we might think we need that maybe isn’t something they would provide.”
Geer said her favorite part of the event was just getting everyone in the community together. “It’s so fun to have everyone all in one place and be able to thank them publicly for everything they do for us here,” she said.
“It’s just one of the fun holiday things you don’t want to miss around here. We don’t have a lot going on for the community other than school functions and this is just something fun for everybody.”
People continued to filter in and out throughout the evening, including no fewer than three former fire chiefs from the department – John Vershum, Larry Dunbar, and Dave Sharples.