To the Editor:

On behalf of the membership of the Exeter Professional Firefighters, we consider ourselves very fortunate to work in a town such as Exeter, with its strong sense of community spirit. This helped make 2017 a successful year for us.

Operation Warm, which provides brand new, union made coats to elementary aged children expanded to include all SAU 16 elementary schools this year and we distributed over 60 coats. We would like to thank all those who donated, with special thanks to Margaritas of Exeter for allowing us to hold Noche Nights and a taco-eating contest. Without their support, we would not have been as successful.

The Exeter Firefighters Toy Bank was able to make Christmas special for 100 children. We would like to thank everyone who donated toys and assisted in our annual wrapping party. We would also like to thank Exeter Hospital, Hannaford’s and New England Pizza for providing food for the wrapping party. We also would like to thank the Dan Healy Foundation for its generous donation of gift cards this year.

This year we purchased firefighter badges that are in all of our ambulances and fire apparatus. When we are out in the community, on calls or in other capacities, we enjoy interacting with children and giving them a firefighter badge, only making that interaction more enjoyable. We worked with Stillwell’s Ice Cream to hand out free ice cream cards when we see children riding a bike safely by wearing a helmet.

We donate money to other causes in the community as well. Our members work hard to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a cause that the International Association of Firefighters has sponsored since 1954. We hold several “fill the boot” drives each year and have many members who participate in the Trans NH MDA bike ride from the Canadian border to Portsmouth, which raised over $190,000 last year.

Our members provide the best level of service possible to the community. We are cross-trained to provide Advanced Life Support at the Paramedic level and provide specialized rescue and hazardous materials mitigation, in addition to being traditional firefighters. We constantly strive to improve ourselves so that we are prepared for when you call upon us on your worst day. No matter what the problem, we are here to help you. Again, we are fortunate to work for a well lead organization in such a great community.

Respectfully,

Donald Matheson

President IAFF Local 3491