Baking for police and fire this holiday season?

[Gawen]

Don't forget the people in Public Works. You know, the unseen and mostly forgotten employees that bring you fresh water, make sure your sewer is supposed to go where it's supposed to go, the street department and perhaps the parks and recreation dept. While employees of this type aren't out chasing badguys and entering house fires, your public works employees are subjected to hazards that no cop or fireman would want to go near.

Take for instance fixing water and sewer mains that are anywhere from 3 to 20 feet deep. Wet ground is extremely hazardous and the chance for a cave in is extremely high. Couple that with repairing a 'live' water main or broken pressurised sewer pipe, well the chances of getting hurt go higher still.

Look at the people who have to work in sewer. They are subjected to a couple dozen types of diseases, rats and mice and cockroaches. Like water guys, sewer guys also work in the streets, where citizens seem to never see the caution signs. Also, like water guys, they work with heavy equipment, such as dump truck, back hoes, loaders, and lighter equipment that can easily cut off body parts.

While street department isn't digging holes to fix things, they are still in the streets digging up and/or laying down concrete or asphalt, repairing/sealing cracks, guardrails, lights and signs. And the potential for getting hurt or killed is still high.

So, while it's fine to remember police and fire, and well, it's easy to remember them because they're both quite 'public' (you see and hear them everywhere) remember the people that work on the hidden and easily forgotten infrastructure where you live.

[KDbeads]

It's a good thing most of our volunteer fire department works in the city office already then

[McQ]

Gawen, what a thoughtful and great reminder! Thanks! You just gave me a good mission. I live in a small town where a lot of people work to keep it a great place to live, and they do so virtually unnoticed. My wife and I have the means and the ability to do this, so I'm going to commit to our water/sewage folks, and our volunteer firefighters. I already donate to the police force, so that's covered.

Thanks again for this idea!

[Gawen]

Thanks again for this idea!

Quite welcome, Q....and thanks for the compliment.

[Whitney]

Thanks, my local group, fellowship of freethought, bakes cookies every month or so for various area fire departments.  I will suggest that public works be considered for inclusion and cite your reasons.

[KDbeads]

I visited the City office today and made sure everyone had gotten something.  Only missed three people the other day   Thanks for the reminder!

[Gawen]

Thanks, my local group, fellowship of freethought, bakes cookies every month or so for various area fire departments.  I will suggest that public works be considered for inclusion and cite your reasons.

One thing I forgot is that the water dept is the sole and direct reason fire dept's can fight fires in most municipalities that have water infrastructure. If someone doesn't keep that water flowing, fires can't be put out in a timely fashion.