When first responders are called to a traumatic incident, they often see things that are tough to walk away from, the needs that are left in the wake of a tragedy. Whether it is empty refrigerators, shoeless children or babies with diapers that haven’t been changed in days, many of the brave men and women of Thurston County’s law enforcement agencies and fire departments have consistently dug into their own pockets to help.
It is the reason Dick Garrett, a 25-year veteran firefighter from Lacey Fire District 3 and Thurston County Undersheriff Tim Braniff created First Responders Making a Difference (FirstRMad), a non-profit with a unique niche – to provide resources for first responders to give to those in crisis without depleting their own cash.
“It comes from a place of being on the front line for many years and seeing tough situations,” says Garrett. “I have certainly spent money out of my own pocket. A lot of the first responders do.”
“It is similar to the Principal’s Emergency Checkbook Fund in the school districts,” explains Braniff. “FirstRMad allows first responders county-wide to build a bond and spend money to help a family or kids.They can bring the receipt back to us and get reimbursed and not be out anything.”
Opportunities to Make a Difference Abound
The Thurston County Sheriff’s office is currently serving as ambassadors for the FirstRMad program, which is already making a difference.
“A lady who suffered a traumatic event that displaced her from her residence needed a place to go,” relates Braniff. “The Sheriff’s Office chaplain got her to a hotel and paid for it until her family could arrive and take care of her. The chaplain brought us the receipt and we reimbursed him.”
“And, just recently,” Braniff adds, “a domestic violence victim who had no fuel in her car to escape her situation was helped by a lieutenant from the Sheriff’s department. He took her to the gas station and filled up her tank, and we reimbursed him.”
Not only is the group enabling first responders to give during a crisis, but they also are giving in other ways that are consistent with their mission.
Last December, Braniff, who sits on the Boys and Girls Club Citizen’s Advisory Board, obtained enough donations from FirstRMad, a private donor and other generous organizations so 10 kids in the Club could “Shop with a Sheriff” before Christmas. The donations happened within just a few days. He was even offered a discount from the Yelm Walmart.
“The little guy I was with that day looked up and said, ‘I knew we were going somewhere special, but this is really special,’” Braniff shares warmly.
First responders shopped with Youth of the Year finalists for clothes to wear for their presentations. Photo courtesy: FirstRMad
The FirstRMad Board also decided to directly benefit the four finalists for the Boys and Girls Club “Youth of the Year” award. They partnered with Lacey Police, Lacey Fire and Thurston County Sheriff’s Deputies for a shopping spree with first responders to purchase new clothes for each youth to wear for their presentation at their big event in January.
Supporting a Mission
FirstRMad is a non-profit directed by a 5-person board that includes not only law enforcement and firefighter leaders, but also a CPA and retired CFO to ensure the 501(c)3 organization is set up correctly.
FirstRMad is funding work by the Thurston County Sheriff’s office on a pilot program to most effectively distribute their funds. The pilot program will then be used as a model for other police and fire departments in the county.
“We want a quick process with accountability from start to finish so our sponsors and contributors know we are good guardians of these funds,” says Garrett.
First responders can currently contact the Sheriff’s office with a receipt and explanation, to be considered for a reimbursement.
There are several program ideas FirstRMad is considering including working with schools and teachers to identify where the non-profit can make a difference.
“The need is huge,” says Garrett. “There are 1700 homeless children in Thurston County alone. There is a lot that goes on in schools with underprivileged kids. You have kids going to school that need shoes. We want to spend the money in a way that doesn’t enable bad situations, but that fills a true need.”
FirstRMad’s focused mission is a bit different than other non-profits. “FirstRMad is not a back-up or a meet-us-halfway program,” Braniff explains. “It is for emergent needs that our first responders identify out in the field, especially when it involves children that can’t help themselves in tough situations.”
“We created FirstRMad to help our first responders throughout the county on the front lines,” says Garrett. “We want to empower every patrol car and fire engine in Thurston County.”
A Golf Tournament Extraordinaire
Garrett, who has organized charity golf tournaments and fundraisers for many years organized FirstRMad’s first annual golf tournament last summer, raising more than $25,000. The event was so popular, they had to turn teams away.
This year, their Police and Fire Invitational is on July 9, 2018 at Indian Summer Golf and Country Club where a total of 36 teams will take over the course. There will be plenty of fun, food and beverages. Local businesses can sponsor the event or support it with gifts for the raffles. Celebrity Richard Karn will play and first responders and their families will serve as volunteers.
“I have been doing this a long time and the response to this tournament has been amazing,” said Garrett. “I think everyone is returning that participated last year and we have several new sponsors. We already have 14 teams signed up. When we sent out the registration announcement this year, we put in in big, bold letters, ‘First Come, First Serve!’”
For those who can’t attend the tournament, but want to give FirstRMad, their website takes donations through PayPal.
