City firefighters, Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 896 members, are positioned at strategic locations in Downtown Batavia today (Friday) until 2 p.m. collecting donations for Muscular Dystrophy Association as part of their annual Fill the Boot campaign.

Photos by Frank Capuano

City of Batavia Firefighters IAFF Local 896 is happy to announce the
return of our Fill the Boot campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

After a two-year break due to COVID we are bringing back our annual boot drive this year. On Friday, June 17, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. through 1:30 p.m. our Local 896 members will once again be out in the areas of Court Street and Main Street as well as Court Street and Ellicott Street to collect donations for the MDA.

The second part of our Fill the Boot campaign is our traveling boots. IAFF Local 896 has partnered with businesses throughout the City of Batavia to host a collection boot so that donations can be made throughout the year. Donations collected during our Fill the Boot campaign will support researching neuromuscular diseases such as ALS, muscular dystrophies, and other diseases.

Donations will also provide support for families affected by these diseases and opportunities for children affected to go to camps with other children.

Local 896 would like to thank everyone for the donations already received and for all future donations. Also a thank you to the local businesses such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Tops Friendly Markets, NAPA, Sherwin-Williams, and Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union who have already adopted a traveling boot for their location.

Members of Batavia City Fire, IAFF Local 896, were at locations on Main Street and Ellicott Street in Downtown Batavia today for their annual Fill the Boot campaign to raise money for MDA.

This year, they raised more than $11,000 from thousands of small donations by residents passing by the firefighters with boots.

The Batavia City Firefighters IAFF Local 896 is proud to announce that the community raised $9,104.17 for the MDA, according to Firefighter Chris Morasco.

"That is the total for today’s boot drive combined with the 'traveling boots' that are always on display around town," he said.

The annual fundraising campaign helps kids and adults with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases to live longer and grow stronger.

Continuing a more than 60-year tradition, dedicated fire fighters from Batavia City Firefighters IAFF Local 896 hit the streets or storefronts with boots in hand asking pedestrians, motorists, customers and other passersby to make a donation to MDA today at the intersections of Main Street (Route 5) and Court Street, and at Ellicott Street (Route 63) and Court Street.

"The dedication of these firefighters to MDA’s mission is unwavering, spending countless hours both with Fill the Boot and MDA Summer Camp to care for the kids and adults in the Buffalo and Greater Rochester Area," said MDA fundraising coordinator Alicia Sinicropi.

Funds raised through Buffalo and Greater Rochester Fill the Boot events in 2018 empower families who inspire everyday Americans to help kids and adults with Muscular dystrophy and related muscle-debilitating diseases live longer and grow stronger, displaying how we all can truly live unlimited no matter what limits we may face.

Contributions also help fund groundbreaking research and life-enhancing programs such as state-of-the-art support groups and Care Centers, including the MDA Care Center at Dent Neurologic Institute Amherst and Orchard Park, Buffalo General Medical Center and Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

They also help send more than 60 local kids to “the best week of the year” at MDA summer camp at Rotary Sunshine Campus – all at no cost to their families.

MDA and IAFF Partnership

As MDA’s largest national partner, the IAFF fuels MDA's mission to find research breakthroughs across diseases; care for kids and adults from day one; and provide families with services and support.

IAFF support for MDA began in 1954 when the organization committed by proclamation to support MDA until a cure is found, and the organization's unwavering commitment to MDA has remained strong to this day. The IAFF raised $100,000 for MDA in 1955, and $1 million in 1970, and fire fighters continue to raise the bar in their fundraising efforts. In 2017, more than100,000 fire fighters participated in Fill the Boot events across the country and raised $24 million. To date the IAFF has raised $630 million for MDA.

About the IAFF
The International Association of Fire Fighters represents more than 300,000 professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect 85 percent of the nation’s population. More than 3,200 affiliates and their members protect communities in every state in the United States and in Canada.

About MDA
MDA is leading the fight to free individuals — and the families who love them — from the harm of muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases that take away physical strength, independence and life. We use our collective strength to help kids and adults live longer and grow stronger by finding research breakthroughs across diseases; caring for individuals from day one; and empowering families with services and support in hometowns across America.

City of Batavia firefighters, IAFF Local 896, are downtown this morning with fire boots they're hoping passing motorists will help fill with cash.

The donations benefit MDA.This is their annual "Fill the Boot" fundraiser. They will be in the area of Ellicott, Court, and Main until 1 p.m.

Press release:

Members of the Batavia City Firefighters from IAFF Local 896 will fan out across the streets of Downtown Batavia with boots in hand on Friday.

This year's Fill the Boot drive for MDA is June 15th and it's organized by firefighter Chris Morasco.

“In 2017, we set out to break the $10,000 mark," he said. "Our members, with the help of our generous community were successful and able to raise $10,651 for the MDA! Look for us Friday!”

From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., city firefighters will be at the intersection of Main Street (Route 5) and Court Street AND at Ellicott Street (Route 63) and Court Street.

Photo: File Photo

Members of the Batavia City Firefighters, IAFF Local 896, were on Ellicott Street and Main Street in Batavia today for their annual Fill the Boot campaign to benefit MDA.

UPDATE: The firefighters raised $10,651.52.

Photos by Frank Capuano.

You have until 1:30 p.m. today to make a difference in the annual Fill the Boot drive to raise funds to fight muscular dystrophy.

Batavia City firefighters from IAFF Local 896 are ready to take your money at Main Street and Court Street and at Ellicott Street and Court Street.

In 2015, they raised $7,523 for the MDA. This year, they hope to top the $10,000 mark.

Members of the City of Batavia Fire Department IAFF Local 896 pair up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association every June to participate in the annual Fill the Boot fundraising campaign to benefit children and adults with muscle disease throughout the Greater Rochester and Buffalo areas. Members volunteer their time to fan out on city streets with boots in hand to raise money from local traffic.

To help the MDA throughout the year, members have created several “traveling boot” displays. With approval from local businesses, these displays have been placed in various business locations throughout the city. The “traveling boot” will stay in one location for a short period of time, before moving to a new location.  Customers and patrons can place loose change and dollars in the boot and help raise money for the MDA. The first boots have been placed in Dunkin’ Donuts and Southside Deli.

Batavia’s Fill the Boot drive is organized by firefighters Chris Morasco and Mark Sacheli.

“The communities’ generosity as well as great participation from our members has continued to make this program a success. The 'traveling boots' are a way that we can give back to the MDA more than just one day a year. It is a great cause, and we look forward to a successful fundraising campaign for the 2016 year.”

Today was the day to fill the boot and a lot of people did. City firefighters, members of IAFF Local 896, were positioned on Ellicott, Main, and Court streets this morning to collect donations from passing motorists as a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

It was another banner year for the firefighters with a new record amount of $9,635.39, according to Local President Greg Ireland.

Above, Adam Palumbo collects a donation.

Jeff Stevens collects a donation.

Firefighter Tim Stengel collects a donation.