Local mentors provide random act of kindness

A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person or people wishing to assist or cheer up another person or people. And that's exactly what Circle of Friends Executive Director Beth Hanson and a few of her mentors did when they decided to reach out into the community to find someone they could "pay it forward" to.

And since Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District has been working extra hard this fire season, Hanson and some of the mentors decided that bringing a delicious pizza and salad dinner, provided by Hop N Bean, to the firefighters that were on hand at the fire department last Thursday would be their act of kindness.

To add to the fun, the mentors also brought their little "friends" (the children under the caring support of the mentors) along to share in the pizza feast.

Circle of Friends is a mentorship program that supports volunteers to become a friend to youth in need in the Sisters community.

"It's about giving back to the community," said Hanson. "One of our funders had also graciously provided a check for the firefighters so they can have their own party one day soon. The children made cards for all of the fire department thanking them for keeping Sisters community safe."

The children didn't waste any time talking and asking questions to the three firefighters/paramedic staff members and the one volunteer firefighter that greeted them at the station.

Before anyone dug into the giant pizzas and huge salad, three of the nine children that attended yelled out, "firemen go first" and so they did.

As they munched on pizza, mentor Jim Pritchard decided to ask a serious question to a few of the children sitting near him as firefighter/paramedic Cody Meredith looked on.

"So what do you do if you have a fire at your house?" The children yelled out answers all at once with Meredith listening carefully.

"Pretty good answers," said Meredith. He then proceeded to explain how to handle that kind of fire situation.

After dinner the firefighters decided to give back to the children and bring them on a tour of the entire fire station.

"Let's split up into groups," said firefighter/paramedic Rob Harrison. "We'll check out the upstairs and all the fire engines and ambulance."

The children were up and heading in the different directions with their mentors right behind. The Nugget correspondent decided to follow Rob Harrison's group.

First stop was in the equipment room where all their flame-resistant jackets, hats and boots are stored.

"This equipment keeps us from getting too hot when we are fighting fires," said Harrison.

As the groups approached the garage where the fire trucks are kept, Meredith surprised the children by sliding down the pole, pretending he was on an emergency call.

What child could resist climbing up on a fire truck and pretending to drive? They all got the chance to, but before going up into the fire engines, everyone was educated about what each engine was used for, from a wildland fire to a structural fire.

"This engine is for a brush fire which is for a smaller type fire. It doesn't have the same water capacity as some of the other engines," firefighter/paramedic Matt Millar explained to the children and mentors as they grouped around the big truck.

The ambulance was especially appealing to the children when the power gurney went up and down.

"Come on up and you can get strapped in," said volunteer firefighter Bill Hayes to a few wide-eyed children.

Everyone had a wonderful learning experience being educated on the many facets of the fire department, from what a firefighter wears to how many gallons of water a tender tanker truck holds to where a firefighter sleeps on a 48-hour shift to finding out that the busiest area in the station is the laundry room.

"We learned as much as the children did about the fire department, and what a wonderful career opportunity it could be for anyone, including these kids. Part of our goal at Circle of Friends is to bring about new opportunities," said Hanson.