We are part of a steering committee formed for the benefit of the Ottumwa Fire Department’s Community Outreach Program. We are made up of students from Evans Middle School as part of the Classrooms in the Community Service Learning Project organized by Connie Wilson. We are a group made up entirely of volunteers.

We have been working closely with local media, the United Way of Wapello County, North and South Hy-Vee as well as Assistant Deputy Fire Chief Mike Jones. This has been a fun and great life experience so far.

We have been making public service announcements, commercials, giving interviews, and making flyers, table tents and much more — all for our local fire department and our community.

The Ottumwa Fire Department has a program that allows them to come to your home and install smoke detectors, batteries for smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and place house numbers on your home for $10 if you can afford it and if you cannot it is a free service.

On May 28 we will be hosting the first annual Fire & Ice Ice Cream Social. Its purpose is to educate the public about this program and to help the department to raise operating funds to expand and continue to provide this life-saving service to the Ottumwa Community.

So from 4-8 p.m. at the northside fire station, come join the Ottumwa firefighters for a tour, receive information about the program and enjoy a yummy bowl of ice cream.

Lily Elbaum, Zana Lippincott, Theresa Schafer

Evans Middle School students