Local Firefighters Kick Off Annual "Fill The Boot" Fundraiser

You may notice some firefighters milling about in the middle of the streets over the next several weeks.

Firefighters from 27 different departments kicked off their annual "Fill the Boot" drive for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Those firefighters began the day at Tindle Mills with a barbecue and then headed over to the Springfield Cardinals Game.

There, the firefighters were recognized for their efforts. Southern Stone County Fire Protection District raised the most last year at just more than $16,000. So tonight, the assistant chief of that district threw out the first pitch.

Keith Wolven of the Southern Stone County Fire District says, "I mean, the people out there will just amaze you at this time of year. We're out there, standing in the middle of a hot street, and traffic going everywhere, and people will actually come by and give their hard-earned money.
You've got some of them who will actually drop off $50 and $100 bills, because they know it's such a good cause. And it just really touches your heart, when you see people giving that kind of stuff for such a good cause."

The MDA Telethon airs on KOLR over the Labor Day weekend.