Pastor Eric Veltre on behalf of the Shiloh Fellowship presented members of the Gassaway Volunteer Fire Department with an “end of the year” donation in recognition of firefighters’ quick response to an emergency at its Braxton Street Outreach Center.
The Fellowship sponsors a weekly program to serve the community with donated clothing, housewares, and foodstuffs. Last summer, an elderly individual while in the Outreach Center, experienced a medical emergency. Pastor Veltre’s wife, Kristy Veltre and other church members volunteering at the time, witnessed the event and Mrs. Veltre, unsure of the seriousness of the matter called Braxton County 9-1-1.
In recounting the incident and explaining the reason behind the gift to the GVFD, Mrs. Veltre said, “I was just so relieved to see how quickly firefighters, Tom Skeens and Paula Cunningham responded and attended to the stricken individual.” She went on to say, “I was concerned that we were over-reacting and when the ambulance arrived, no one was anything but concerned.”
An additional consideration making in the monetary gift, has been the GVFD willingness to assist in a small way, Shiloh Fellowship’s Monday evening ministry, “Living Free.” The ministry held in Iowa Street’s Rock Wall venue, is currently reaching out to challenged individuals with an emphasis on “Coping With the Losses of Life.”
Willard “Jug” Cotrill, senior firefighter attending the presentation, thanked Pastor Veltre for the donation on behalf of the entire fire department.
