After hearing the horrific news in late February that three Burnsville police officers and one firefighter-paramedic were shot during a police standoff, Galen Malecha got an idea.
Soon after learning three of those officers died doing their jobs, Malecha asked himself, how could the Northfield community protect its emergency responders?
He hit upon the idea of raising funds to purchase protective vests for Northfield’s emergency services teams.
“We need to protect those who take care of us,” said Malecha, Rice County Commissioner and chairman of Defeat of Jesse James Festival.
The upcoming fundraiser, Vest Fest, is scheduled for Saturday, May 18 from 4-7 p.m. at the VFW, 516 Division St. in Northfield. The event, jointly sponsored by the VFW Post and Auxiliary 4393 and the DJJD Committee, will take place rain or shine. A free will donation is suggested.
Malecha said Vest Fest began to take shape after several rounds of phone calls with Tom Nelson, NAFRS fire chief, Brian Edwards with Northfield Hospital + Clinics EMS, and Julie Odette, VFW Auxiliary past president, as well as his crew of dedicated DJJD volunteers.
In order to raise the funds needed to purchase a protective vest — which costs $1,000 each and weighs about 22 pounds — the organizers of the event are hoping to raise $32,000. That amount would cover the costs for vests for 22 NAFRS firefighters and 10 EMS officers.
Alex Castillo, an EMS here for a year and eight months, said having the bullet proof vest will definitely make him feel safer.
Brian Edwards, chief of emergency medical services, said the reality that responders would have to face gunfire was always an on-the-job possibility. “We’d rather have a vest like this than not have it,” said Edwards. “It will give them another tool in their toolbox.”
For Nola Matheson, current president of the VFW Auxiliary, being able to provide emergency responders with bullet proof vests makes her feel a bit better about the dangerous jobs facing responders. “They never know what they’re walking into,” she said. “They go into a situation cold, not knowing what will happen next.”
Malecha said that not only was it “the right thing to do,” it was also a preventive measure. “We always think that a tragedy like Burnsville will never happen in our community,” he said. But, in reality, we need to be prepared in case that ever happens here.
Once the community raises enough money to supply the emergency response teams with protective vest, Malecha said he’s prepared to start another fundraising campaign for helmets.
Vest Fest will feature Fire and Rescue vehicles, an EMS ambulance and a blood pressure check station. Protective vest will be on display.
Julie Odette said all the profits from food sales will be going to Vest Fest. She said burgers, brats and hot dogs will be grilled outside. Inside the VFW, DJJD Ambassadors and Junior Ambassadors will be on hand to pass buckets for donations.
She said those wishing to write a check should make the check payable to NAFRS and mail it to 301 5th St. W. in Northfield.
“We hope to raise enough money to begin to purchase those protective vests for the Northfield Fire & Rescue and Northfield Hospital + Clinics Emergency Medical Services,” she said.
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