The day some students invited firefighters over for lunch

Photos courtesy of America Silver, CDC

Every kid loves a field trip to the fire station, right? Well, this time a group of Menifee children turned things around, inviting Menifee firefighters to their school for a home-cooked meal.

Students who attend the before- and after-school program at Callie Kirkpatrick Elementary School through the Child Development Center wanted to find ways to give back to the community, said America Silver, CDC site supervisor. Their first project focused on local firefighters.

In talking with the Callie Kirkpatrick students who attend the CDC program, a plan was quickly developed.

"We were meeting with the school age children, and the children started talking about wanting to give back to the community, like the community helpers," Silver said. "They decided that they would like to give back to our firefighters. We brainstormed which would be the best way to do so, and they came up with the idea of offering them lunch, because they said firefighters love to eat!

"One of the teachers called the closest fire station (Station 76) and let them know what we had planned for them. They were excited about our call and added it to their calendar for Thursday, Jan. 31."

The children planned to serve lunch from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. that day for firefighters on the various shifts. An invitation was delivered during a Jan. 28 field trip to the station.

"The day before the event, the children helped us prepare the food, the parents donated water and desserts," Silver said. "On Thursday, we were a little scared that they wouldn’t be able to come because of the rain, but it was very cool when so many of them showed up!

"They hung out with the kids, played with them, and gave them information about their job duties. The children got to see the firefighters in a whole different way. The last group of firefighters were talking to the children, and as they were, their alarm went off, and they had to run. They left us, sirens blasting, and running off to save someone! We were excited to have them join us in this special event for them."

Silver said the students plan on more "community give-backs" for the future.