Point Pleasant Beach Firefighters Sell Ice Cream for a Good Cause

Point Pleasant Beach firefighters had a great turnout at their ice cream fundraiser to help the families of their fallen brothers, much to the delight of children relishing the sweet stuff and scrambling onto fire rigs parked outside Dunkin' Donuts.

All proceeds from the Wednesday night event go to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which helps families of fallen firefighters.

Dozens of the volunteer firefighters took turns serving ice cream inside the Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins store on Route 35 and showing off fire rigs outside, as area residents streamed in and out.

Dan Skowronski, who has been a volunteer firefighter with Ocean Fire Company 1 for six years, said he joined after retiring from his job at Jaeger Lumber.

"I really enjoy doing it,"  said Skowronski, who lives on Arnold Avenue.

Nationally, The Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation has made a $100,000 contribution to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Michael Brodeur, who has been a volunteer firefighter for 29 years, said he was grateful to Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins for the national donation and for letting firefighters sell ice cream and sending proceeds to the foundation.

"Dunkin' Donuts has been spectacular," said Brodeur, who lives with his wife, Dawn, and children, Sarah and Ryan, on New Jersey Avenue.

He said donating to the foundation is important because it helps support families of fallen firefighters.

Ice cream cones of all flavors sold at the discount price of 31 cents each.

The foundation runs support programs for the families and survivors of firefighters killed in the line of duty, said Fire Chief Mark Drew in a telephone interview earlier this week.

“They have also created a new flavor, Firehouse #31, in honor of this event," Drew said. "This delicious flavor is the perfect blend of hot and cold
-- a crunchy atomic fireball ribbon laced throughout with hot cinnamon and packed with red hot candy pieces in vanilla ice cream.

"This will be our fourth year participating in the program, and it has always been a great community event, with normally over 1,000 cones being served," Drew said.

“We are very happy to be participating with the Point Pleasant Beach Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin Robbins store to participate in this program," Drew said.

"The store here is so supportive of the community, and they are always generous to the Fire Department,” added Drew.

 “We are excited to help support the work of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in their quest to provide support and assistance to the loved ones and colleagues of our nation’s fallen firefighters," Drew said.

"Additionally, the foundation has been very pro-active in providing training and programs to help reduce firefighters' injuries and deaths," he said. "We have used their free training programs in the past and we're glad to have this opportunity to give back.”

The Point Pleasant Beach Fire Department consists of two companies, staffed entirely by volunteers that respond to 300 to 350 fire and emergency calls per year.

 “We are also actively seeking new volunteers, so this is a great way for anyone interested in joining to learn more about becoming a firefighter," Drew added. 

 No prior experience is needed and the department provides all required training and protective equipment.

Anyone interested in volunteering can call 732-892-0500 x150 or 732-892-1127 for more information.