Firefighters aren’t the best eaters, and an upcoming fundraiser aims to give Alexandria’s first responders healthier options.
The Alexandria Fire Foundation is hosting the fundraiser, which includes freebies for kids and adults and raffles for Washington Wizards and Washington Nationals games. It will be held at Waterfront Park (1 Prince Street) on Sunday, September 11, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“Most people are not aware that our firefighters have to pay for all their own groceries for the three meals a day they eat at the fire houses,” said Lorie Green, vice president of the AFF.
The main cause of death for on-duty firefighters is heart disease, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
The AFF has partnered with D.C. firefighter Jonathan Tate, the founder of nonprofit Food on the Stove, and proceeds from the event will go toward supplying Alexandria firefighters with free healthy meals.
“Since the fire fighters have to buy their own food, they often buy food that is cheaper and easy to make – think fatty pasta dishes. Food on the Stove is changing that mindset by providing free healthy meals,” Green said.
