Onancock, Va. – A fundraiser will take place Saturday, July 27, to benefit firefighters on the Eastern Shore. It’s being organized by the Salty Dog Bar and Grill in Onancock.
Called the “Dog Days of Summer for ESVFD,” they plan to have 12 music acts, all you can eat American-style buffet and games. All proceeds will go to the Accomack County Firefighter’s Assistance Fund.
Like just about everyone who lives on the Eastern Shore, the bar's manager, Jeremy Middleton, has friends who are firefighters and knows how tough things have been for them this year.
For months, they fought dozens of fires deliberately set throughout Accomack County until police finally arrested two people in April.
They were very stressed out. They were to the breaking point,” said Middleton.
It wasn't just the firefighters who were drained, their funds were as well.
Individual fire departments have received some money already from donations that were made at the time, so now, the director of public safety for Accomack County says the money raised will go somewhere that will be useful for all of them – the Eastern Shore Regional Fire Training Center.
Middleton says he's hoping for a big crowd this weekend to show the firefighters that their community is still here to support them, because although the arsons have stopped, the firefighters haven't.
“The fact of the matter is, they're still out day and night, they're still here,” said Middleton, “They still need our help because basically when you need help, they're there for you.”
The event will take place from 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Salty Dog Bar and Grill at 20250 Fairgrounds Road in Onancock.
It’s $10 to attend. Firefighters and law enforcement get in free.
For more information, you can go to a Facebook page they have set up: https://www.facebook.com/#!/Dogdaysofsummeresva
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