Kansas Firefighter Calendar Raises Funds for Local Community Projects

Nov. 07--Hot off the presses, the 2016 Kansas Firefighter Calendar is available now.

The calendar, which is produced by the Kansas Firefighters Museum in Wichita, was released this week and includes portraits of 13 firefighters from throughout the state.

"I really like the photos," said Shae Brooks of the South Hutchinson Fire Department, who earned one of the coveted spots through a competition in May. "I'm really happy about it. My family is really proud."

Brooks, whose image graces the month of December, opted to hold her photo shoot at the former Hutchinson Community College Fire Science facility near Yoder.

"It went really well," she said of the portrait session. "It was a good experience."

Calendars can be purchased online at https://hutch.news/bvx9il and in Hutchinson at Jackson Meat, 13 W. Sixth Ave., as well as in Wichita at the museum, The Spice Merchant and select Walgreens stores.

Other vendors interested in selling the calendar may call the museum at (316) 648-0563.

Money raised through sales benefits museum programs like Coats For Kids, a free youth fire camp and decontamination wipes for firefighters.

Coats For Kids provides donated winter wear to Kansas children who have lost theirs in a fire or whose families are unable to afford them. This year's campaign officially begins today with a kick-off drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rusty Eck Ford featuring some of the model firefighters, free sandwich bites and kids' fire helmets from Firehouse Subs and a s'more-roasting station.

For more information about the calendar and related programs, visit the website or find Kansas Firefighter Calendar on Facebook.

Copyright 2015 - The Hutchinson News, Kan.