Denmark firefighters serve community and Booyah

BY JO MAHLUM

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

DENMARK – The Denmark Volunteer Fire Department will host their annual Booyah Sale and Raffle on Sunday, March 17 at their Fire Station 1.

Department President Jeff Bielinski said the fundraiser came to them about four years ago when the COVID-19 first hit.

“We had our bowling fundraiser, but with COVID we didn’t want to interact with people because we are first responders and we wanted to keep doing out part in keeping the community safe,” he explained.

The idea of hosting a drive-through was brought up, and they decided to run with it, making its debut in 2021.

“It is more or less a three-day process of making all the food. Then the day of the event, the guys get there at about 3:30 a.m. to start prepping five kettles of Booyah,” he explained.

“Five kettles is about 220 gallons and we start serving at 11 a.m. and it is all usually gone within an hour or so.

“There are about 55 active members between Station 1 in Denmark and Station 2 in Eden and most of them come together to help with this event.”

The money raised through this event goes to many different needs throughout the year.

This year, it will go towards a stand-by generator for Station 1.

“We just wanted to find a way to bring the community together again during a time when that was ‘impossible.’ We wanted to do something for the community to show them that we are out there serving for them,” Bielinski stated.

The drive-through opens March 17 at 11 a.m. with Chicken Booyah, brats and burgers.

A raffle drawing will take place at 2 p.m. with 10 possible prizes, including $1,000.

Firefighter Thad Tremble added, “We are always grateful for the community support we receive at our events and urge everyone to get there early, as the Booyah usually goes quickly.”

For more information, contact Bielinski at jeff.bielinski@gmail.com.