Last year, in the wake of the deaths of Toledo firefighters Pvt. Stephen Machcinski and Pvt. James Dickman, a group called Feed Our Toledo Firefighters arranged for meals to be delivered to local fire stations for six months, at first every day, then on the 26th of each month.
Machcinski, 42, and Dickman, 31, died from injuries sustained while fighting a North Toledo apartment fire on Jan. 26, 2014.
During the anniversary week, the group again stepped up to organize meal deliveries to fire stations, an initiative called A Week of Feast.
Area restaurants, schools, organizations and individuals volunteered to donate and deliver food to each station Jan. 26-31.
“It was really just a continued effort,” said Week of Feast organizer Larry Cready. “As we got near to the one-year anniversary … I suggested we see if we can get them fed on Monday and it just blossomed from there.”
On Jan. 26, 18 fire stations and the 911 dispatch building received delivered meals as part of the group effort.
“It’s just a collaboration of people who have gotten together,” Cready said. “I may be organizing it and trying to coordinate the effort here, but I certainly couldn’t do this by myself.”
Tony Packo Jr. of Tony Packo’s Cafe was among the restaurant owners who donated meals to local stations. Packo’s At The Park delivered to Station No. 5 on Jan. 27 and the Original Tony Packo’s delivered to Station No. 13 on Jan. 28.
Packo Jr. said it was an easy decision to get involved, not only because of the close proximity of his restaurants to fire stations, but also to show support for Toledo’s firefighters, many of whom are regular customers.
“We’re obviously very close to the fire stations in a lot of regards. A lot of firefighters, including the chief, patronize our restaurants,” he said. “We appreciate their dedication and their sacrifice to say the least. We just wanted to show our support.”
Cready said local firefighters have been humbled by the meals and the outpouring of support is something they appreciate.
“They don’t ask for anything from us,” Cready said. “They get up every morning and they put their lives on the line for us because that’s their job. … For us to come together to show them that we’re Toledo Strong [gives] them a pat on the back and [is] showing them some love.”
Toledo Fire Chief Luis Santiago referenced the meals as part of his thank you to the community during a public memorial service Jan. 26.
“It’s just another gesture of kindness,” Santiago said afterward. “I am ever so grateful to them that they take time out of their day to do that because they don’t have to do that.”
Pvt. Mike Eck of Fire Station 14, a member of Dickman’s graduating class, agreed.
“It’s very welcome just for the fact that people are bringing us hot meals,” Eck said. “They care. They want to take care of us. The support is very humbling.”
The group’s reach extended even down South — 1,000 miles from Toledo in Gainesville, Florida.
University of Florida student and Toledo native Stevie VanAusdale participated in the feeding last year and was so moved by the city’s response, she jumped at the idea to participate for the anniversary.
VanAusdale, who is working on her master’s degree, delivered food to a fire station in Gainesville in honor of the fallen heroes in Toledo.
“I have a friend who is a Detroit firefighter who was injured while fighting an arson fire and it felt like the city really turned their back on him and the others who were injured,” VanAusdale said in a Facebook message. “It was really important for me to help out after Jamie and Steve passed away. I think we so often forget about firefighters and the life-threatening work they do.”
Since the initiative began last year, VanAusdale, her family and some neighbors they rallied have donated meals each month.
“It really isn’t that difficult to make a little extra food once a month, so we figured it was the least we can do,” she said. “I am still Toledo Proud 1,000 miles away.”
Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Sarah Ottney contributed to this report.
