Fire Department Hoax

316-652-9861

This is the number from which a call was issued to our home in the name of the Sedgwick County Firefighters Union soliciting funds on behalf of fire safety training for Sedgwick County Children.

Is this a genuine solicitation on behalf of the Sedgwick County Firefighters Union?

Who cares?

It still is a hoax!

Beware of such solicitations by phone. The first thing to beware of is the fact that professional fund raising companies generally turn over only 15% or less of the monies to the cause to which you donate. 85% or more of what you donate goes to pay the professional fund raisers. So what is really being supported by the donations? Answer: the promotion of fund raising.

Moreover, in this instance, the fire department already has professional people allocated for this very purpose. The City of Wichita Fire Department web site reports: “There are 14 employees assigned to Fire Prevention and these individuals are responsible for Investigation, Inspection and Public Education.” Additionally, there is a Battalion Chief of Fire Prevention.

So, the staff are already in place and in the budget.

One meeting by the Battalion Chief of Fire Prevention with the School Superintendent and School Board would allow presentation of all available material and information that could then be sent on by E-mail to every teacher in the school system. Much of the information and materials is already available at the Fire Department web site.

So why the request for $$$ ?

How is the money to be spent and by whom and for what?

These are the kinds of questions that people need to be asking any fund raising people who call.

When you ask such questions, be prepared for a rude response and likely a disconnect.


One more thing of which to beware. Anytime that people asking for money say, “It’s for the children,” BEWARE! You can be certain that it is a lie.





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Footnote: people who are truly concerned for the children do not wait for funding or union guidelines or support from a committee or legislature. They simply act according to the needs that they observe. They act directly. They use their own money and possessions. Loving parents and grandparents and other family members simply act and give. Caring teachers likewise act and give, often paying for supplies themselves and putting forth great extra efforts. Truly caring rescue people also put their lives on the line without waiting. None of these people stand by waiting and calling for support or monies. They see the need and they act. Those who say, “We want to help the children but we need your money,” by their own statement indicate their first priority. Those who call asking for money so that others can help the children, well . . . read between the lines.