PHOTOS: ‘Bethel Cares’ Fundraiser Event for Victims of the Greenwood Ave. Fire Brought Many Out to Help

Report by Paula Antolini
August 12, 2017 6:31AM EDT

Photo: Some of the many Bethel firefighters, who participated in extinguishing the recent Greenwood Avenue fire, stand with one of the families who were displaced, who lived at 174 Greenwood Avenue. Keegan Finlayson (third from right, back row) and four of his five children (front row, age 9, 9, 11 and 13) along with his wife and baby, escaped the fire. He thanked Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company Chief Tom Galliford (4th from left, back row) and Bethel Fire & EMS Chief Scott Murphy (5th from left, back row), and many other firefighters, for all they did to help. –Photo copyright 2017 Paula Antolini / Bethel Advocate LLC News Media.

PHOTOS: ‘Bethel Cares’ Fundraiser Event for Victims of the Greenwood Ave. Fire Brought Many Out to Help

Many thanks to all those who helped make last night’s event a success! We have an amazing community who came together to help those in need.

The “Bethel Cares” event was held on August 11, 2017 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (although the late rain had some leaving earlier than planned) on the CJH Municipal Center lawn, 1 School Street, Bethel, CT. The indoor concert featured Billy Michael, Jimmy Lynch and Highway Robbery. Food trucks included Green Grunion and Rice and Beans.

The Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company and Bethel Volunteer Fire & EMS were on hand with an amazing display of their fire trucks and equipment on the front lawn of the Bethel CJH Municipal center, running many raffles, a bake sale and children’s fire fighter games too, along with selling T-shirts.

Some of the many Bethel firefighters who participated in extinguishing the recent Greenwood Avenue fire are shown in the photo above, standing with one of the families who was displaced, who lived at 174 Greenwood Avenue. Keegan Finlayson (third from right, back row) and four of his five children (front row, age 9, 9, 11 and 13) along with his wife and baby (not in photo), escaped the fire. He thanked Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company Chief Tom Galliford (4th from left, back row) and Bethel Fire & EMS Chief Scott Murphy (5th from left, back row), and many other firefighters last night, for all they did to help them.

First Selectman Matthew Knickerbocker, Selectman Richard Straiton and Mrs. Straiton, CT State Representatives Steve Harding and Will Duff were spotted at the event, along with this year’s First Selectman candidate Cynthia McCorkindale.

After the event, First Selectman Matthew Knickerbocker said, “Tonight’s Bethel Cares benefit event was a huge success. A lot of fun and a lot of relief money raised. Many, many thanks to the Bethel and Stony Hill volunteer fire companies, the CERT volunteers, Chic Boutique, Green Grunion, Rice & Beans, Italian Ice, The Highway Robbery Band, Jimmy Lynch, The Billy Michaels Band, all the others I’m forgetting to mention, and a special thanks to Ira, Chief Murphy and Brittany for being the driving force that made it happen. Great job by everyone!”

First Selectman candidate Cynthia McCorkindale said, “It’s always inspiring to see an event that evolves from one or two people who want to help, and who make it happen.”

The “Bethel Cares” fundraising event was sponsored by Bethel Fire & EMS and much of the organizing was done by Cindy Murphy, Chief Scott Murphy and Ira Pollack, Cindy said.

Funds raised to date are in the amount of approximately $4500 but the FD is still waiting for a few more vendors to turn in funds, so that amount will go up, Cindy said. Heather McMillan (Bethel Chamber of Commerce) and Chief Scott Murphy have a list families and businesses displaced, and Jenn Lawlor (Social Services) was also helping, and they will be distributing funds to those in need who were affected by the fire, once all funds are in, Cindy said.

THESE SUPER-COOL T-SHIRTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE! You can still donate to this cause, and purchase a shirt for $20 each, sizes adult small to adult XXL (and a few XXXL still remain too) contact Chief Scott Murphy of Bethel Fire & EMS at (203) 947-1569 or Cindy Murphy at (347) 759-1242, or email: [email protected]

View more photos of the event below.

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SO MANY RAFFLES were happening at the event!

The list of businesses and organizations who contributed includes:

The Toy Room
Lizzie Davis Designs
Plain Jane’s
Stewart’s Barbershop
Jacqueline’s
Precision Hair Design
Bethel Cinema
Uncle Leo’s
Rocco’s Deli
Central Package
Famous Pizza
Peach Wave
La Zingara
Tail Waggers
Boylan Chiropractic
The Note
Portofino’s
Stop and Shop
TCB Salon
Grassy Plain Smoke and Vape
U.K. Gourmet
Brittleen Crafts
In Style Salon
Spark Arts
Rolling Video Games of New England
Red Zone Gym
Yacko Plumbing
Davids Photography
Cindy’s Avon
Sentsy by Corey
Taproot
Kennedy’s Barbershop
C & S Auto Appearance
JM Collectibles
Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company
Bethel Volunteer Fire Department
Bethel Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)