OONA donates to Carlton firefighters, other organizations

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 December 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association is playing Santa this holiday season giving out donations to several local organizations.

OONA met with the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company officials tonight to give them a $700 check. The following are pictured, from left: Deanne Borrie, OONA membership secretary; Jeanne Lauta, OONA vice president; Jim Tabor, president of Carlton Fire Company; Andrew Niederhofer, Carlton fire chief; Ed Bellnier, OONA president; Sue Zeppetella, OONA treasurer; and Eileen Wuethrich, OONA member.

Carlton will use the funding to help buy new cold water rescue gear, Tabor said.

The fire company in October mailed letters to town residents and they have responded with about $12,000 in donations, with many from seasonal residents who spend the winters away from Carlton, Tabor said.

OONA wanted to support the fire company “because of what they do in our community,” Bellnier said.

OONA also have given other donations with money coming from its annual concert series, sponsorships and membership fees.

The organization approved $700 for the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Association with $500 of that as a memorial for the late Joette Haines; $200 each for Hospice of Orleans, VALOR (Volunteer Alliance Linking Orleans Resources) and Project LIFE. In addition, OONA donated $173 t0 the Just Friends program through the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern.