Little Rock firefighters use an outreach program to motivate the community

Little Rock, Arkansas – At DePaul USA’s Jericho Way, the Little Rock Chapter of the International Association of Black Fire Fighters, or F.L.A.M.E., came together to provide food to people in need and to motivate minorities around the state.

“Feed the Need,” an event, is a component of an initiative that began in 2015 and has expanded to assist hundreds of people.

Veterans and members of the unsheltered community might enjoy a hot chili supper and perhaps take some necessities with them. Frank Scott Jr., the mayor of Little Rock, also showed up to support the work of F.L.A.M.E.

As the Little Rock Fire Department’s first Black female captain, Quatecia Wilson stated that she thinks representation is crucial and that chances like these provide people with something to strive for regardless of their current situation.

“Let the community see that we’re here and that we’re here for them, and that we’re always a servant, not only just on the job but also outside the job that we have a serving heart,” Wilson stated.

Another LRFD captain, Joe Howard, stressed the value of giving back. “This is a fantastic chance to support our community. We are needed by the homeless. During this time of year, we need them to feel like they’re a part of our life,” he stated.

“Fire Leaders Actively Maintaining Equality,” or F.L.A.M.E., seeks to be a beneficial influence on everyone, but particularly on minorities. “I firmly think that you can become anything you observe. “The fact that we are a minority in this field and that we are out there means that many people are unaware of our presence and our size,” Wilson added.

This is just one of the several outreach initiatives that F.L.A.M.E. organizes all year long, many of which are paid for out of pocket by the firefighters—a cost they claim is always justified.

“We want to make sure that they understand that just because we’re out here, on these fire trucks, we’re not looking down on anybody,” said Kevin Stewart, a captain at the Little Rock Fire Department Central Station. Everyone is valued since we’re making sure they’re all taken care of.”

Stewart continued, “Since we are a minority organization, we gotta make sure that these kids know that it’s not just a certain group of people that are taking care of that everybody is involved, and hopefully that they can see that they, too, can be in this position one day.”

Stephon Hall, a firefighter, even took his kids to the event to teach them the value of community service. “For them to be able to see that it’s okay to give back, even through hard times, you can still be a good person,” Hall added, demonstrating how Feed the Need had an impact on the smiles of both the firefighters and the people they served.

Howard reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to community involvement for the long haul. “We have a long history of giving back to the community. We intend to continue doing it for a while. Therefore, we will keep doing it. “We will ensure that it occurs in every generation,” he declared.

During the holiday season, F.L.A.M.E. hopes that their work will encourage others to discover ways to help. In December, they plan to host their next Christmas outreach event.