Perry County’s biggest carnival of the year was canceled because of Covid-19. Now, the New Bloomfield Fire Company is finding new ways to fundraise.
Fundraising accounts for 45% of the budget, a large chunk of which comes from the annual fireman’s carnival, typically around $40,000.
“I believe everybody’s in the same boat. Everybody that I know of in Perry County has canceled their fireman’s carnival,” said New Bloomfield Fire Chief Mitch Robb.
Robb says many fire companies are resorting to drive-by food pickups.
“We’re going to have teams coming out to the cars, taking orders and coming into the station, getting the food and bringing it back to the car,” Robb said.
It won’t come close to the money that could have been raised at the carnival, but Robb says the community has been very supportive. “In fact, we’re getting in donations right now that people have sent, that they would have spent at the carnival.”