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| By Debbie Gardner PRIME Editor HAMPDEN Whenever they were needed, they responded without question, putting themselves on the line to help their fellow townspeople. They asked for nothing in return. No pay. No accolades. But now, Hampden Fire Chief Peter Hatch is hoping those same townspeople will find it in their hearts to help three volunteer firemen whose homes were severly damaged when the Scantic River overran its banks during the weekend of Oct. 17-18. In early November, Hatch and his department established a Hampden Volunteer Fire Department Relief Fund at the Monson Savings Bank to help retired volunteer firefighters George Fisher (Dept. member from 1947-1973), and Homer Fuller (Dept. member from 1946-1989), and active volunteer Thomas Smith, with the cost of repairs to their homes. "All three cellars were totally full of water," Hatch told Reminder Publications during a telephone interview shortly before Christmas. "The Fishers had water on the first floor. The circuit breakers had to be replaced, and the contents of each [family's] cellar had to be disposed of." Hatch said Fisher, Fuller and Smith all had insurance, but that the payments didn't cover the cost of repairing all the damage to their respective properties. "The Fishers just moved back into their house a week ago, after getting the sheetrock repaired and a new furnace, " Hatch said. As of Dec. 15, Hatch said there was "just under $1,000 in the [Relief Fund] account." "But that's just a drop in the bucket [in covering their damages]," he commented. "We don't get paid, and these people had 25-to-30 years with the department," Hatch said, referring to Fisher and Fuller. "Every time the whistle blew, they came. Maybe it [would be] nice for people to give back to them now." He added that there may be townspeople in East Longmeadow who might know the Smiths as well, as Carol Smith used to work for an insurance agency in town. "A lot of people might know her and be interested in donating," he said. Anyone interested in making a donation to help the Fullers, Fishers and Smiths can make a check out to the Hampden Volunteer Fire Department Relief Fund, and send it c/o Monson Savings Bank, 15 Somers Road, Hampden, MA 01036. Hatch said, as of now, there is not a deadline for making donations to the fund. "We'll let it run until [we think] we've gotten the maximum [in donations]," he said. "Then we'll divide the money up between the three families." |