Page 10 - VillageNews10-18-17

COMMUNITY TDHS Class of 1967 supports art center

www.villagenewsonline.com

Lives on the line, Fire-EMS

recognized for efforts

BY BECKY ROBINETTE WRIGHT

The lights have dimmed in Victory grew up wanting to be a police officer
Tabernacle Church, the audience is still; but couldn’t do that until I turned 21, so I
with the flags respectfully held, the Honor started volunteering as a firefighter. Once
Guard walks down the aisle and presents I did that, I knew the fire department was FROM LEFT, HUGH CLINE, BETTY O’NEILL, AND HARPER ALEXANDER
the colors for posting. The Chesterfield where I was going to stay.” seat yet? With a $1,000 contribution to
Fire and EMS annual award ceremony has More changes were coming into Representatives from the Thomas the Chesterfield Cultural Arts Capital
begun. Elmore’s life. Dale High School Class of 1967 Campaign, you can permanently
Firefighters and EMS personnel “It wasn’t until around 2006 that I felt presented a $1,000 check to Hugh commemorate your support for the
each day face unknown challenges, and God call me into pastoral ministry,” Elmore Cline, chairman of the Chesterfield arts in Chesterfield County with an
hazards associated with the work. It is a said. “God has paved the way throughout Cultural Arts Foundation for the engraved plaque on one of the seats In
job that requires dedication, courage, and my life, and being a pastor was what God purchase of a theater seat plaque. the state-of-the art theater. Visit www.
sometimes placing one’s life on the line had in mind.” Funds were raised during their recent artschesterfieldva.org to donate.
to perform a rescue. Behind the scenes, it As media spokesperson, community 50th class reunion. Do you have your
means endless hours of training, learning programs coordinator, chaplain, member of
new methods of firefighting or advances in the peer support team, minister, husband, Food Bank receives $10,000
medical care as they are made known. and father, how does Elmore handle all
On the night of Oct. 10, fire and medical those responsibilities? “Some may look at donation
personnel, along with some county police all those things and think responsibility,”
officers were recognized by their peers Elmore says, “I look at all of those things as The Chesterfield Food Bank struggling families in Chesterfield.”
things I love to do. I know God will recently received a donation of $10,000 Carol Jenkins Barnett, president of
take care of the amount of time I from Publix Super Markets Charities. Publix Super Markets Charities, said in
need to be doing all of them.” According to Kim Hill, director of a statement, “For more than 50 years, we
In addition to Elmore’s the food bank, the Publix managers and have been nourishing the communities
award, Wagstaff Volunteer Fire corporate team members visited the food in which Publix operates. Through
Department was named Volunteer bank a few months back and volunteered these efforts, we’ve supported early
Company of the year, Forest View at their Ettrick Distribution. They education programs and the plight of
Rescue Squad,Volunteer Rescue handed out food, pushed carts, and took the hungry and homeless, recognizing
Squad of the Year; Joseph W. the time to talk to the residents needing the importance of education and proper
Mackereth, Career Firefighter food at that place of distribution. “It nutrition. We believe every child
of the Year; Todd C. Stoudt, was awesome,” she said. “They were deserves to have hope, love, and joy.
Civilian Employee of the Year; willing to jump right into community Our foundation is dedicated to giving
LT. JASON ELMORE RECEIVES CAREER OFFICER and Brock Hoskins, Emergency hunger relief efforts before they even these gifts of nourishment and hope to
opened their stores. They have started
our communities.”
OF THE YEAR AWARD Communications Officer of the
for some of their heroic acts. The choices Year. One Medal of Valor was a partnership with FeedMore, and in The food bank’s Give Where
are not made lightly, as leaders must wade presented to firefighter Terry Shaffer. Also turn also included the Chesterfield Food you Live Day online giving event
through the thousands of incidents handled awarded were 17 Lifesave Awards, 3 Bank. We are very grateful and blessed is scheduled for Oct. 25. To
by hundreds of responders. Unit Citations, 13 Unit Lifesave Awards, to have them come alongside the food donate financially, visit www.
Lt. Jason Elmore is a name familiar to 8 Citizen Lifesave Awards, and one bank to feed children, seniors, and chesterfieldfoodbank.org.
many in the fire service and out in the Certificate of Commendation.
community. Elmore was recognized as It was a year that touched many lives, Food Lion celebrates completion of
Career Officer of the Year. “I was really and that night and the very next day, crews $110 million investment in
surprised by receiving this award and would be busy again, doing their best to
deeply honored,” Elmore said. “I truly save lives and property. Not a group of 71 Greater Richmond stores
believe that Chesterfield Fire and EMS strangers working a shift, but men and
is one of the best organizations in the women who share a bond only they can
country and to be recognized as the officer understand.
of the year was overwhelming. As the Elmore said it well: “Our profession is a
PIO [Public Information Officer], I am big family.”
blessed to get the opportunity to share with
the public through social media, TV, print
newspaper, etc. of all the great things the
members of the department are doing every
day. It is amazing to see how much our men
and women are making a difference in the
lives of the people they come in contact PHOTOS COURTESY OF FOOD LION
with throughout their shift.” PHOTOS COURTESY OF FIRE AND EMS
Elmore knows firsthand what firefighters
and medical personnel face, he is a not
only a lieutenant who advanced in the DURING A GRAND RE-OPENING OF 71 FOOD LION STORES OCT. 11, EACH
ranks from firefighter to officer, but also STORE DONATED 7,100 MEALS SUPPORTING LOCAL FEEDING AGENCIES
a paramedic. In addition to Elmore’s MEDAL OF VALOR- FIRE CHIEF LLOYD AND ONE MILLION MEALS TO FEEDMORE. PICTURED FOLLOWING A RIB-
dedicated service to his department, he also SENTER PLACES A MEDAL OF VALOR ON BON CUTTING CEREMONY AT THE CHESTERFIELD COMMONS FOOD LION,
TERRY L. SHAFFER, FIREFIGHTER I. TO
COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE PRESENTED A LARGE CHECK FOR 7,100
serves the community as a minister. EARN A MEDAL OF VALOR THE RESCU- MEALS TO WOOD, SPIRIT, AND LIFE MINISTRIES FOOD PANTRY. AS PART
“I began as a volunteer in Colonial ERS LIFE MUST BE ON THE LINE DURING OF THE CELEBRATION, THE COMPANY ALSO GAVE AWAY $10 GIFT CARDS
Heights in 1993,” Elmore explained. “I A REACUE. MEDALS OF VALOR ARE NOT AND THERMAL TOTE BAGS TO THE FIRST 100 CUSTOMERS AT EACH OF
LIGHTLY GIVEN. THEIR LOCATIONS.
10 OCTOBER 18, 2017 news@villagenewsonline.com