Kimball FD holds turkey dinner fundraiser

By RICHARD JENKINS

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KIMBALL, Wis. - Over 800 people got a turkey dinner at the Kimball Community Center Sunday as part of the Kimball Fire Department's annual turkey dinner fundraiser.

Fire Chief John Smith said the number was down a little from past years - the highest was approximately 1,100 - the traffic had been steady.

"It's been steady all day. People were here early, because of the good weather I think," Smith said, adding that he thought the low turnout may partly be due to the weather being too nice.

This is the 34th year the department has held a dinner fundraiser, with turkey on the majority of menus, according to Smith.

The money raised at the event will go toward purchasing equipment for the fire fighters and whatever else the department needs.

Smith said the department was also saving to buy a thermal imaging camera - which could be used to see through smoke to where a fire was actually burning as well as during search and rescue operations - with the funds raised by the dinner's raffle going exclusively toward the purchase of the camera.

Smith credited the volunteers with making the dinner an annual tradition.

"This wouldn't happen without the volunteers," he said. "We're feeding 800 people today, setting up everything in the hall, prepping the food, keeping it organized, (the volunteers were essential)."

There are currently 20 members in the department.