Since 1984, Gardner residents have grown accustomed to seeing firefighters standing at the intersection of Main and Elm holding boots to collect donations for Jerry’s Kids (Muscular Dystrophy Association).  The citizens of Gardner and the surrounding area have come to expect the Labor Day weekend tradition of dropping their coins and dollar bills into the fire boots.  Jerry and Diana Holly, who coordinated the start of the MDA Boot Block in Gardner, raised around $2,000 that first year.  As Gardner’s population grew, the amount of donations rose as well.

However, the total each year tended to hover around $5,000.  A few years ago, the decision was made to move Gardner’s boot block to the weekend before Labor Day weekend.  This decision was made in the hopes that more people would be home and not already away celebrating the 3 day weekend, as a result more donations could be raised. That decision has definitely paid off!  Three years ago the firefighters hit a milestone of just over $7,000.  On the 25 anniversary of Gardner’s boot block, a grand total of $8,579.12 was raised!

On behalf of Gardner DPS and Fire District #1 we would like to thank those who made the time to stop and drop a donation in our boots.  In short, this year’s total will send at least 10 children that are stricken with the muscular disease to a week long summer camp.  A big thank you also goes out to Wal-Mart for allowing the firefighters to stand outside their doors to collect and Central National Bank for assisting us in counting this year’s total!