A nationwide nonprofit organization that supports children battling critical illnesses started a chapter in Sangamon County and recently hosted its first fundraising event in Sherman.
Project Fire Buddies is a national nonprofit run by firefighters. The organization supports local children who are battling critical illnesses. The first chapters of Project Fire Buddies originated in Illinois, and the organization now spans 16 states with over 180 chapters. More than 750 children have received aid from the organization.
Springfield Fire Department and Local Union 37 firefighter Blake Ollar founded a chapter of Project Fire Buddies with his wife, Erica. The chapter covers Springfield, Rochester, Sherman, New Berlin, Chatham, Athens and Pleasant Plains.
Ollar discovered Project Fire Buddies by listening to a podcast and was inspired to bring the organization to Sangamon County.
“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for kids, especially kids who are sick and they need a little extra help,” said Ollar. “I thought it was the perfect opportunity to bring here.”
Project Fire Buddies held its first-ever Fall Festival at Sherman Village Park on Sept. 27. The event had hundreds of attendees whose admission costs will contribute to the families receiving aid from the Springfield chapter of Project Fire Buddies.
The Fall Festival’s impact extended beyond the families who will benefit from the fundraiser. Sherman-area first responders and law enforcement got to interact with kids and their families in a non-emergency situation. This included EMTs, police and firefighters.
“Sherman Fire came out with some guys to help man their engine and truck just to have exposure and let the kids see that,” said Ollar. “Springfield Fire was able to get an engine out here as well, which is really cool.”
Kids were also able to make their own first aid kit with Illinois CPR Pros instructor Chuck Jiardina, who grew up in Springfield and felt strongly about the impact the event had on the community.
“Giving back to the community is just something I think everybody needs to do,” Jiardina said. “The commonality we all have is really the local area that we grew up in, that we live in, and benefiting each other.”
The Fall Festival featured more than 50 local businesses, with vendor tents and animal encounters lining the park and food trucks parked along the sidewalks.
Many vendors who participated felt a personal connection to the initiative and appreciated the opportunity to come together as a community to support Project Fire Buddies.
One of the participants, Trent Heck, brought a calf for attendees to pet from his family’s ranch.
“I’ve been involved with law enforcement, first responders, pretty much my whole life, so I was honored to come out here,” Heck said. “I think local businesses are huge. They’re very important, and being able to come out and be part of this event is awesome.”
Springfield’s chapter is still looking for Sangamon County kids to sponsor. A nomination form is available at projectfirebuddies.org and those who know of a family with a critically ill child are encouraged to fill it out.
“We’re always accepting applications,” said Project Fire Buddies board member Katie Saucier.
