Fire companies in Orleans unite in T-shirt fundraiser for Knights-Kaderli Fund

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Debbie Taylor, fire chief of the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company, poses with a poster showing the design of a tee shirt she has created to pay tribute to the fire companies with EMS departments in Orleans County. The proceeds from which will benefit the Knights-Kaderli Fund which assists people in Orleans County fighting cancer.

EAST SHELBY – A walk-run to benefit the Knights-Kaderli Fund has been an annual event at the East Shelby Fire Hall for many years, and this year when the date for the walk approached, East Shelby fire chief Debbie Taylor started brainstorming what she could do to help.

“Knights-Kaderli helped my in-laws, who have since passed, and my sister-in-law, who beat breast cancer,” Taylor said. “Our fire company just got done participating in a fundraiser with battalions from the west and one from the east to help Make-a-Wish, and that gave me the idea to incorporate firefighters into something to help Knights-Kaderli.”

Taylor got in touch with a guy who works at D&T Graphics in Lockport to see he could help her. Then she contacted all the fire departments to make sure it was alright to put their names on a tee shirt.

Albion, Carlton, East Shelby, Lyndonville, Medina, Shelby, Barre, Clarendon, Kendall, Ridgeway, Murray Joint Fire District and COVA EMS all agreed.

The design chosen is a skull with a firefighter’s hat, firefighters’ axes, a pink ribbon for cancer and the names of the fire companies and COVA.

The design is available on long- or short-sleeved tee shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies. A face mask is also available.

The deadline is Oct. 31 and orders must be placed online at orleanscounty2021.itemorder.com. Orders will be shipped to the customer’s house. Taylor is working with fire company members to save money on their shipping.

“This shows support for Orleans County firefighters and helps Knights-Kaderli,” Taylor said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

Taylor, who is Orleans County’s first female fire chief, will complete her first year in office on Jan. 1. She already plans to run again for the office.

“It’s been a good year,” she said.