By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
FAIRGROVE — Organizers of a fund-raiser are hoping for a good response to help a former Fairgrove area first responder with medical bills and living expenses.
A benefit all-you-can eat soup and sandwich dinner will be noon – 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Fairgrove Fire Department Hall 5005 Center St., Fairgrove, for Mike Hall.
“Mike has been off work since August. He has had surgeries on his back. He had some disks fused and has little feeling from the waist down,” said Fred Ahrens, who is a lieutenant with the Fairgrove Fire Department, and helping coordinate the event.
Hall is able to use a walker some, but a wheelchair is his main means of transportation.
“Because his house is two stories, he and his family had to move in with his mother,” said Ahrens. “We (members of the fire department) built a ramp for him to be able to get in the house.”
The benefit will include chicken noodle soup, bean soup, chili as well as ground bologna and egg salad sandwiches along with a drink and desserts. A minimum $5 donation is requested.
Along with the meal, Santa will also be at the fire hall from 1-4 p.m., to listen to children’s wish list for Christmas.
Hall served on the Fairgrove Fire Department for 12 years, was a volunteer for the Vassar Ambulance for eight years, and was a hospital CNA for 13 before going into the home-health care field as an LPN for two years.
“Mike woke up one day with back pain and couldn’t hardly move. He had to have surgeries, but he still has little movement from the waist down,” said Ahrens. “He doesn’t have any medical insurance and hasn’t worked since August.
“We want to help him out with medical and living expenses.”
Hall is married to Kathy (Joles) and they have a son, Blake, who is a junior at Reese High School.
For more information, call (989) 528-0229.