A local firefighter needs the community’s help after a medical emergency. In order to help, a bake sale fundraiser has been set for Saturday, October 16, at the Lewisburg Fire Department Station Number 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
According to locals involved in emergency response, April Harvey has been a staple of the community for as long as some remember. The sale, organized in part by Melanie Tucker, hopes to help Harvey’s family during the emergency.
“We’ve known each other longer than that. She’s always known my family and my aunt Joy. [Harvey] has been in EMS, fire, and a nurse for over 26 years. She’s always been a help in the community. We’re just trying to help her family with some expenses that they’re going to have within the next couple of weeks, and maybe longer. We’re trying to help out, to help her the way she helped us. … We’re here to help her family and that’s what we need to do.”
The Lewisburg Fire Department, known as Lewisburg Fire-Company 20 on social media, announced the reason for the event fundraiser.
“April McCormick Harvey and her family need our help. April is an RN at Greenbrier Valley, an officer and firefighter with Renick Fire Dept and an amazing wife, mother, daughter and friend. She has spent her entire life taking care of her community. She and her family have done so much for so many and now it’s our turn to take care of her and them. Earlier this week she suffered a medical emergency (not COVID-19 related) and was flown to Ruby Memorial. She is still fighting for her life. Her family will be having a lot of unforeseen expenses related to this and we want to help relieve some of their worry while they focus on her and getting her well.”
In order to help, a fundraiser was organized, selling hamburgers, hotdogs, and baked goods at Lewisburg Fire Department Station Number 2, located near Greenbrier Bowling on Route 219.
“A basket of WVU items has been added and will be raffled off,” reads the department’s post. “April is a huge Mountaineer fan and this is yet another way we can honor and support her. Please come support this effort. All funds will go to the Harvey family. Donations for the family will also be accepted. An account is being set up for the family and I will share how to donate to it ASAP.”
Homemade food will also be available.
“We’re going to have a bunch of homemade stuff – macaroni salad, potato salad,” Tucker said. “I know my family is going to be making that kind of stuff. Then [we’ll have] chili and slaw and everything that you would need.”
Between a post shared by Lewis and the fire department, over 400 people have shared the event on social media, encouraging for a good turn out on Saturday.
“Thank you everyone and please continue to pray for April and her family. Please share this post to everyone you can,” the post reads. “Angie Clutter Lewis, Melanie Ann Tucker are organizing this event. Please come out and help support the benefit.”
Anyone unable to make it to Saturday’s event that would like to donate can also do so at BB&T. Tucker explained a “family member has set up an account, … I think it’s already set up, [at BB&T]. If [someone] wanted to donate there, they could. They can just say it was for April Harvey’s account.”
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