RANGELEY — Community members, including two businesses, stepped up to raise more than $6,500 to help replenish the Firefighters Association’s account for 2021. The association spent more than $5,000 on Christmas gifts for children and delivered them to each child in December.

More children signed up this year and association members wanted to make sure each child received what they wanted, member Fire Rescue Capt. Jonny Wakefield said.

The association, whose membership are mostly firefighters, usually puts on a Christmas party for the kids but had to change those plans because of COVID-19 restrictions.  Instead of a party, the presents were delivered to each child.

Fundraising efforts have been limited because of the restrictions and limited snowmobile events early in January.

The organization also spent more than $1,500 on Easter last year to brighten children’s lives, member Fire Rescue Capt. Jonny Wakefield said.

Steve Philbrick, owner of Bald Mountain Camps Resort, Inc., who has been a first responder for years, and his son, Tyler, who manages the resort, and another son, Quin, owner of BMC Diving, teamed up to put on “Jumping in for a Cause” on Mooselookmeguntic Lake, where the camp is located.

Steve and Tyler cut a large hole in the ice.

“We expected to maybe raise $1,000 for this year’s activities,” Wakefield said.  BMC Diving stood by for safety reasons and also jumped in the water. But donors kept pushing the amount higher.

The majority of the money raised will go toward this year’s holiday activities and to buy more snowmobile rescue equipment.

It was good to see the support for the Fire Rescue Department, Wakefield said. The efforts of everyone involved is greatly appreciated, he said.

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