Wayne Magazine May 2017 | Page 28

Reaching Out When Duty Calls Pequannock Volunteer Ladies Auxiliary serves the need B ehind every brave fire- fighter there is an auxil- iary of ladies supporting the department – or at least that is the case with the Pequannock Township Volunteer Fire Company 2. According to the company’s history page: A group of men banded togeth- er on June 21, 1923, to form what is now the Engine Company No. 2 of Pequannock Township at Sweetman Bros. Garage. Organized as an inde- pendent group, it was incorporated under New Jersey’s laws and laid the cornerstone for the current fire house. Three years later, the Ladies Aid was formed to help support the fire company. The group reorganized 26 MAY 2017 WAYNE MAGAZINE in 1930 to form the present-day Ladies Auxiliary. For the past 87 years, the auxiliary has supported Company 2, which protects 14,506 people living in the area, for the past 87 years. The company operates out of one station with five trucks, two boats and a 5-ton transport vehicle. What sounds like a large undertak- ing for a group of volunteers boils down to a commitment and dedica- tion these men and women are proud to be a part of. When duty calls, the ladies of the auxiliary arrive ready and prepared to serve according to current Auxiliary President Sharon Snook. “The Ladies Auxiliary has provided support during major emergencies such as hurricanes, flooding and long-lasting fires,” Snook, 56, of Pequannock, says. “During the hurricane in October 2012, we cooked and provided hospitality for three days for the firefighters, EMS and National Guard. And, during the recent floods, the ladies again provided food for the crews that were on duty 24-plus hours.” A primary focus of the auxiliary is to raise funds for company equipment. “We have held two successful tricky trays and we also hosted three well-attended paint parties,” Snook says. In addition to raising funds, the auxiliary also facilitates some fun. LADIES NIGHT Auxiliary members gather for a photo at the recent paint party. Among the ladies enjoying a night out are Chrissy Van Sant, JoAnn Bachorick, Bobbi Jo Murphy, Marion Hook, Betty Schmidt, Tracey Berkenbush, Sharon Snook, Catherine “Penny” Corter and Cindy Little.