Submitted by COUNTRY Financial
On the Friday of the Fourth of July weekend, COUNTRY Financial representative Jon Killingbeck traveled close to 100 miles, zig-zagging his way from south Thurston County to north Thurston County with fifteen packed coolers. Over the course of four hours, he visited 13 fire stations from Grand Mound to Steamboat Island with a special delivery: ice cream from local ice cream truck, Sweetlee’s ice cream.
The firefighters on duty at Tumwater, Griffin, South Bay, McLane Black Lake, Ground Mound, Scott Lake, Little Rock, Maytown, Rochester and Olympia fire stations were pleasantly surprised by Killingbeck’s cool gesture to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our firefighters, especially during what is typically a busy holiday weekend for them. A COUNTRY Financial program called Operation Helping Heroes helped Killingbeck make it happen.
“These firefighters often have to sacrifice their holiday time with their families to help protect us and our communities,” said Killingbeck. “My wife works at two hospitals and holidays are the busiest time. It reminded me that so many First Responders go above and beyond every day, and this past year made things especially challenging. It was a way to show our appreciation and it was fun to see how much they appreciated it. But who doesn’t love ice cream?”
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities across the U.S. and add pressure to the nation’s hospitals, healthcare workers and first responders, COUNTRY Financial has stepped in to provide funds for much-needed equipment and supplies. Through its Operation Helping Heroes program, the company donated $3 million in 2020 to first responders, medical workers and military service members in the communities it does business in. The Operation Helping Heroes program was created in 2015 to support non-profit events and programs that benefit active duty service members, veterans and their families.
