After the first day of collection, it was apparent that this would be no ordinary campaign. The $173,686.56 collected by B-Shift was the second highest one day total in Fairfax County Fill the Boot history (by only $2,000!). Needless to say, the $50,000 to disaster relief goal was quickly accomplished and we began work on the $500,000 goal for Greater Washington MDA.

The second day brought rain and chill. C-Shift put personal comfort aside and made a point to stay out as much as safely possible. Fire Station 5, Franconia, personnel came in with $28,251 collected. That is the highest amount collected in one day by one shift in Fairfax County Fill the Boot history. A tip of the fire helmet to C-Shift personnel who did not let the weather conditions get in the way of collecting $155,629.66.

Due to the work schedule, personnel from A-Shift had only one day of collection and made the most of it. A-Shift collected a total of $140,193.28 on what was a beautiful Sunday.

Coming into the last day of the campaign, C-Shift knew they only needed roughly $76,000 to accomplish the $500,000 collected goal for the Greater Washington MDA. Personnel collected $152,059 for the last day of the campaign which meant another $71,954.06 was added to the disaster relief fund for a total of $131,278.65. Part of that total was $4,476.36 from the 142nd Recruit School, $220 from the Logistics Distribution Center, $4,291 from the 9-1-1 Center, $252 from the Fire Prevention Office and $60 from the local office.

When all was said and done, we collected $631,278.65 total for Fill the Boot 2017. Never has any municipality collected that much money ... ever.

Thanks to the following for their support:

• Chairman Sharon Bulova and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors,

• Fire Chief Richard Bowers and the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department,

• President John Niemiec and Local 2068,

• Chief John Morrison, Vienna Volunteer FD, and all volunteer canteen units,

• Director Bill Kang and all the members of the Department of Public Safety Communications,

• Colonel Ed Roessler, Sergeant Tom Bailey, PFC Jared Warner and the Fairfax County Police Department,

• President John Harris and the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Retirement Association,

• All career and volunteer Fire and Rescue members and their families who helped out during the campaign.

Last, I would like to thank the residents and guests of Fairfax County who, by opening their car window and generously donating, made this year’s Fill the Boot a tremendous success. We could not do this without you.

The author is a master technician at Fire Station 40, Fairfax Center, B-Shift, and coordinator for the Fairfax County Fill the Boot Campaign.