Around Town

T-Shirts for Sale: New Canaan Firefighters Raise Money for Breast Cancer Foundation

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The New Canaan Fire Department and New Canaan Fire Company No. 1 are joining forces to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation ahead of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

The local agencies are selling T-shirts at an online store through midnight Thursday ($25 for youth tees, $28 for adults), according to volunteer firefighter Silvana Cardona. 

Cardona’s great-aunt passed away from breast cancer two years ago “so it definitely hits home for me,” she told NewCanaanite.com. “Breast cancer awareness and fundraising is something that I strive to do,” Cardona said. The Fire Department also might purchase additional shirts to sell at the Main Street firehouse throughout October, she added. 

Referring to the online store raising money for the national breast cancer organization—which itself provides resources and support to those facing the disease—Cardona said, “This is our first step in regards to doing something that’s separate from firefighting generally. It’s a great way to get community involvement and also fundraise for a great cause.”

Cardona joined the fire company in January, realizing a lifelong goal.

Albert Bassett

Call for Volunteers: New Canaan Fire Co. Looks To Build on Successful Recruiting Year

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Town resident Lauren Freeland, a 2011 New Canaan High School graduate who works in commercial vehicle sales, had thought of becoming a firefighter in her hometown prior to joining the ranks last year, though she hadn’t been sure a good opportunity would materialize. Freeland’s cousin is a firefighter in Bridgeport and at one point “it was brought up that I should try it,” she recalled Monday. “I had never really been in the right place and time in life yet.” Last summer, Freeland spotted signs in town that New Canaan Fire Company No. 1 was recruiting, so she emailed the volunteer organization and quickly heard back “and that at that point I was like, ‘Crap, I have to go,’ ” she recalled with a laugh.

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‘As Meaningful a Volunteer Opportunity As I Could Imagine’: New Canaan Fire Company No. 1 Calls for New Members

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One of New Canaan’s most vital and widely recognized community organizations is putting out a call for new members. 

In recent years, a handful of firefighters with the New Canaan Fire Company No. 1 have been hired on as full-time paid members of the New Canaan Fire Department—a testament to the strong relationship between the two entities, though it’s left the volunteer fire service short of its target numbers, officials say. Those who have joined the New Canaan Fire Company in recent years say it offers truly meaningful involvement in the community as well as fun, camaraderie and education. 

Firefighter Steven Kryger joined in November 2020 and has been able to serve as an active volunteer with the organization though he has a full-time job. “Virtually all of our members are full-time students or have full-time jobs—it’s very doable,” Kryger told NewCanaanite.com. “We kind of make it so members of the community can be huge contributors and it fits in with their lives.”

The Fire Company holds drills and meetings on Thursday nights, and there’s an additional one day of training per month (on Tuesdays) during a probationary period for the first year while volunteers are becoming certified as licensed and trained firefighters. 

“Calls can come in any time,” Kryger said.