City firefighters step up to help kids go back to school with a full backpack

From left: Secretary Jessica Gray, Firefighters Beth Blake, Dave Levesque, Jerry McKay and Capt. Mike George (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Rochester firefighters make their share of rescues during any given month, but this month they've been rescuing needy kids from having to begin a new school year without the proper equipment.

City Fire Chief Mark Klose and the Rochester Professional Firefighters President Sam Morrill recently announced an effort to in which the department and its members donated school supplies to kids in need.

Firefighters filled 12 bags of school supplies and donated them to Service Credit Union's Pack A Pack drive. The bags were filled with supplies like pencil sharpeners, colored pencils, pencils, erasers, scissors, rulers, ballpoint pens and pocket folders.

The items, which were purchased by the department and its members, will be provided to area children to help ensure they have what they need to succeed once the school year begins.

"I'm proud of the work that our firefighters and staff have done to collect these supplies for kids in our community," Klose said.

"This is a great way for us to give back and help make the start of the school year as smooth as possible for Rochester's students," Morrill said.