The Ladies Auxiliary of the Southbury Volunteer Firemen’s Association is currently sponsoring an informative display about the group’s services and activities in the glass display cabinet in the Southbury Public Library’s Brinker Fireplace Room. The mission of the Ladies Auxiliary is to support the Southbury Volunteer Firemen’s Association and the community. The display can be viewed during library hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30am- 4:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30am – 6:30pm, and Saturday, 9:30am- 4:00pm.
The Ladies Auxiliary was originally formed on September 12, 1957 by a group of eight women at the South Britain Firehouse in Southbury, CT. These local volunteers expressed a desire to form a Ladies Auxiliary in honor of the sacrifice of the volunteer firefighters and their families. Their initial objective was to ensure that the department had ample support to provide the town with a vital service and has since expanded to supporting the community.
The Auxiliary’s most important service is to provide essential refreshments at structure fires, brush fires, mass casualty drills, search & rescues, evacuation situations and other long-term firefighter involvements. The members are also active behind the scenes. Members plan and host various fundraising events throughout the year that enable them to purchase supplies and equipment for the SVFA, not otherwise funded and support various needs in the community. Among these are: The Southbury Needy Fund, the Southbury Food Bank, Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministry, Pomperaug HS GradNite, educational scholarships. The Auxiliary also provides stuffed bears for each burned child admitted to the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Unit and camperships to the Arthur C. Luf Children's Burn Camp in Union, CT.
The Auxiliary raises the funds used to support these worthy causes with two major annual events: the Mother’s Day Plant Sale, held on the Friday & Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend and Character Pancake Breakfasts. Another incredibly popular family event that the Ladies, along with the SVFA and Junior Corps, enjoy hosting for the community is the Annual Halloween Spooktacular. Members also attend the Southbury Celebration and the SVFA’s Public Safety Day where fire safety pamphlets are distributed. Their efforts are shaped by a strong belief that it is only by local people working together, making the most of their time, skills, and assets that a community can truly thrive.
If interested in becoming a member, participation is open to anyone at least 18 years of age. Meetings are held at 7pm on the 2nd Thursday of each month September through June at the Center Firehouse on Main Street South. To learn more about the Auxiliary’s events, Like and Follow them on Facebook @SVFALA https://fb.me/SVFALA. To become a member, email the membership committee at SVFALadies@gmail.com or call (203) 262-0615.