For A Good Cause: Firefighters Collaborate for Bread For Life Fundraiser

The Southington Fire Dept. is sponsoring a bicycle raffle to benefit the Bread for Life school lunch program. SFD hopes to raise $5,000 by selling 1000 tickets at $5 each. A grand prize of his and hers Haro comfort bikes, will be raffled off August 15 at SFD 310 North Main St.

The bikes, perfect for use on the Linear Trail pave way, have a retail value of $450 each, and were donated by Bobby Sprocket on Meriden Waterbury Tpke.

John Aldieri, career Firefighter and EMT, along with the whole firefighter department, were inspired by the fundraiser idea when School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr. issued a challenge to collect boxes of cereal for the school breakfast program last December.

Erardi started off the campaign with his own generous donation of approximately fifty boxes. After discussion with all the Fire companies, they agreed to go forward with the fundraiser.

“Anything for the community,” said Sprocket. The shop offered the two bicycles up right away.

“Bob has a heart of gold. He runs a family oriented bike shop. He’s helped me several times and he also fixes bikes for the State’s children’s Homes and Hospitals,” said Aldieri. “For him it’s really more than just selling bikes. I encourage everyone to support him because there's a big difference in quality from a department store bike and a bike shop bike.”

Tickets are available from any Southington Fire Department member, at Fire Headquarters 310 North Main St., and at Bobby Sprocket 1529 Meriden Waterbury Tpke., in Milldale.