Boot collections to end, but donations continue
Published on February 15th, 2008 - Warren Wise of the Post and Courier

For years, North Charleston firefighters held up firefighters' boots at busy intersections collecting motorists' spare change as a fundraiser for Carolina Children's Charity at an average rate of $47,000 a year for the past five years alone.

That practice will stop this year after North Charleston City Council raised a ruckus last year over different people coming to the city for permission to stand on street corners and collect money.

This year, the fire department will accept donations at its 11 stations throughout the city until March 8, the day before the charity's 21st annual telethon.

Motorists can swing by, drop a donation in a boot or linger a while to meet the firefighters before going on their way. "Not only will they be helping out the charity, but motorists will also get a chance to meet and greet the men and women of the fire department," said Chief Fire Inspector Charlynne Smith.

Carolina Children's Charity helps children with birth defects and disabling diseases and relies on firefighters' collections to help pay for them.

The organization has no state or national affiliation and receives no government grants or reimbursements for services, said Sonya Beale, executive director of the charity.

It relies solely on the generosity of the community in its fundraising efforts. "We hope the community will continue to show their support by stopping by one of the stations," Beale said. She realizes it's a different form of collection but is hoping people still contribute.

"This will be a trial year to see how it turns out," Beale said. North Charleston turned in about a quarter of the charity's money last year, collecting $56,340. It is second to Charleston in the amount of money raised, Beale said. Mayor Keith Summey said Thursday he would ask City Council to allot funds in next year's budget to make up any shortfall in collections.

The city's fiscal year begins in July. Since its founding in 1987, the organization has provided assistance to thousands of Lowcountry children with birth defects or other diseases in services totaling more than $2.42 million.

Last year, the charity gave out $265,000 to help children in the 12 counties it covers: Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Orangeburg and Williamsburg.

"We have been blessed with the help of firefighters," Beale said.