Sometime in mid-February, I received a kind email:
Hello…we would like to invite you to the Fire Sirens Thrift Store. We are located on Hwy 175 next to the Middletown Fire Station. Fire Sirens have been raising money for the South Lake County Fire Dept for over 40 years. All money raised is used by the dept to purchase life-saving equipment.
We believe our thrift store is the finest in Lake County. We ask you to stop by and ask any questions you might have. and perhaps give us a bit of publicity.
Thanks!!
Jeanne
I was thrilled to get the email, knowing I already wanted to write something about the Mendocino Fire Academy my daughter was attending, then to bring the story back home to Lake County. So I happily replied:
Hi Jeanne,
I’m not sure if we have met in person before, but I am so glad to meet you via email. I am always looking for tips for future article ideas.
I have been thinking about writing an article on our fire departments and/or the Mendocino Fire Academy. I am rather invested in Cal Fire because my daughter is attending Mendocino College’s Fire Academy in Ukiah. When I write the story, I will try to incorporate your thrift store as well.
Middletown has been my daughter’s go-to station for training and practicing the skills she is learning in the academy. So my story will be broad for sure when I write it (most likely when she graduates from the academy). In the meantime, I will be sure to stop by!
Many thanks for everything, and have a great rest of your weekend!
All the best,
Trudy Wakefield
A few weeks later, I make the trip and meet Kathi Larson, who runs the thrift store. All smiles, Kathi tells me, “When my husband and I retired after selling our home in Sonoma and moved to Hidden Valley, I was so bored because I was used to working six days a week. Then I met a Fire Sirens volunteer and really liked it. Now I work about three days a week, which is about right.” Kathi smiles and shows me the Fire Stations 2024 wish list of purchased items displayed on a board.
I look at the list, and my eyes begin to widen. “This is no small wish list,” I exclaim. “This is a lot of money going to our South County Fire departments!” I take a closer look.
Kathi Larson
Items Purchased for the 2024 Wish List:
- Twenty Streamlight High Power mini lights for $2,000
- Two Holmatro Telescoping Cordless Rams for $32,000
- Ten Dry Suits for $18,000
- Ten PFDs for $2,500
- Ninety Fire Hydrant But Reflector markers for $800
- Twenty-five Structural Firefighting Helmet Lights for $1,625
- Fifty NWCF Emergency Response Pocket Guide for $500
- Twelve CMC Clutch for $15,000
- Partech struts for $7,500
- Milwaukee Cut-off saw for $1,800
- Five Milwaukee M18 Sawzall for $ 3,000
For a grand total of $84,725 of life-saving equipment.
I am stunned. This is no small operation. Kathi smiles again. “Yes, and we are still waiting for their next wish list,” she plainly states. I blink, still in shock, when she motions for me to see the processing station where Fire Siren volunteers are folding clothes. “This is where we sort all of our clothing and tag each item according to the size, gender, or age group to be boxed as inventory,” she explains. “Every item is washed and checked to make sure they are in good working condition. No missing buttons or broken zippers here,” she smiles. “And the same goes for our electronics, appliances, everything. If it doesn’t work, we won’t sell it,” she finishes.
Siren Volunteers
Sure enough, on a shelf are boxes all marked with labels such as “men’s socks” or “large women’s shirts,” etc.
I take the grand tour of the store; every row is labeled and categorized for its shoppers. Kathi continues, “Almost 100% of our proceeds go to our fire departments. Only about 1% goes to supplies like laundry soap, hangers, and shelves. Even most of those things are donated. The Volunteer Fire Station covers our electrical bills, so we don’t even have to pay for that, and our staff is 100% volunteers. Right now we have twelve.”
We make our way to the cash register, and I finally meet Jeanne, who is helping a customer make a purchase. “We are cash or checks only. We don’t take cards,” Jeanne kindly explains to me. They really do protect all of their donations by not having to pay credit card fees. I smile as I jot down the note in my notebook.
Jeanne Netherwood
“We’re only open six days a month, every Tuesday from 10 to 4 and the first Saturday of the month, and we collect at least $3,500 a month,” Kathi continues after I say my goodbye to Jeanne.
Once again, I am amazed. This is no ordinary thrift store. Not only is there a steady stream of shoppers, but also loyal donors in South County. My heart feels warm despite the cold spring breeze brushing against my face as I make my way to my car.
The Fire Siren Thrift Store is located at 21095 Hwy 175 in Middletown and accepts donations only during its open hours (Tuesdays 10-4 and the first Saturday of the month from 9-3). They do not accept furniture. And if you are a bargain shopper, they always have a 5-cent and 10-cent racks located right out front of the store. You can’t miss them!
