City of Beaufort and Port Royal firefighters have adopted the Open Arms Shelter for Abused and Neglected Children and Youth for volunteer services from cooking breakfast on Christmas morning to the building of a dining room table.

Several years ago, shelter staff consulted the firefighters about assisting with the hanging of 2000+ ornaments on the shelter tree, one for each child that has lived there.  They joyfully accepted the task over three years ago and have found many ways to assist the shelter since that time.

Knowing that the residents would not be able to spend Christmas morning with their own families, the firefighters cooked breakfast for them and made sure that each child got a special gift.  “The firefighters have been wonderful role models for our residents,” Tina Kuhn, shelter director stated.  “Often, our youth will ask if they can be a firefighter when they grow up.”

When the firefighters realized that the dining room table would no longer seat the average number of residents for each meal, they raised funds to purchase and build a sturdy extension table and benches.  They plan to refinish the original table built over 28 years ago by the late Roger Pinckney X, a longtime board member of the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA).  The shelter is a CAPA program.

The firefighters were recognized with a special award for their volunteerism in 2012.
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