Dozens of fundraisers for the West Webster Fire Department are still coming up

Dozens of fundraisers have already been held and more continue to spring up to help donate to the West Webster Fire Department and others who have been affected by the Webster tragedy on Christmas Eve.

There are so many, in fact, that the fire department now has a page dedicated to benefits being held on its website, westwebsterfd.org.

Anyone who wishes to donate to the West Webster Fire Department’s own Memorial Fund for its two fallen firefighters, Mike Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka, and two injured firefighters, Joseph Hofstetter and Ted Scardino, may also still go directly to their website, or make a check out to the West Webster Volunteer Firemen’s Association and mail it to the firehouse at 1051 Gravel Road, Webster, NY 14580.

Here are some of the fundraisers — though certainly not all — that are still coming up or are ongoing:

—The Rochester Lancers are holding a First Responder Appreciation Day at 12:30 p.m. this Sunday, Jan. 27, at the Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester that will include a “pass the boot” fundraiser to benefit the Chiapperini and Kaczowka families. There will be pre-game ceremony, including a lineup of emergency responders in their Class A uniforms, honoring all first responders, and those from the West Webster Fire Department, Webster Police Department and Monroe County 911 in particular. All firefighters, police officers and EMTs will also get free admission to the game, and there will be special discounted pricing for their family members. Call Kayla Kent at (585) 872-5425 or email Lt. Ahmed Mustafa at the West Webster Fire Department, Ahmed_Mustafa@westwebsterfd.org, with questions.

—Paul Cummings, the singer who wrote and recorded a firefighter song, has agreed to start off his 30 firehouse shows in 30 days at the Sea Breeze Fire Hall, 4657 Culver Road, Irondequoit, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 1. Raffles, food and door prizes will also be part of the event.

—A West Webster Fire Department benefit hockey game featuring Rochester Amerks alumni vs. Webster emergency services personnel, is set for 11 a.m. (game starts at noon) Sunday, Feb. 17, also at the Blue Cross Arena. The $20 tickets will also include admission to the 3:05 p.m. hockey game between the Rochester Amerks and Hershey Bears. Tickets are available at the Webster Fire Department’s Station 1, 35 South Ave.; the West Webster fire station at 1051 Gravel Road; Brighton Fire Department Station 1, 3100 East Ave., Rochester; North Greece Fire Department Station 1, 645 North Greece Road, Greece; and Gates Fire Department Station 1, 2355 Chili Ave., Gates. Tickets are not available online.

—A Boot Your Gold campaign organized by local jewelers got under way this past Monday, Jan. 21, and runs through Feb. 2. The fundraiser is a chance to support the affected Webster families by dropping off unwanted gold to Mann’s Jewelers, 2945 Monroe Ave., or Charisma Jewelers, 2330 Ridge Road West. At the end of the campaign, the gold collected at each location will be collectively valued, with all proceeds directed to the West Webster Fire Association Memory of 12/24/12 Fund, which has been set-up to directly benefit the four families of the four affected firemen. Monetary donations will also be accepted and may be made out to the West Webster Fire Association.

— Batavia-based company Rocking Rattlesnake Entertainment has announced that country act Confederate Railroad will be doing a benefit show for the victims, and their families, of the West Webster tragedy Friday, Feb. 8, at the Main Street Armory in Rochester. A total of 30 percent of all ticket sales will be donated to the cause. In addition, West Webster firefighters are expected to be in attendance and “passing the boot.” Rocking Rattlesnake President Ben Thompson said he hopes to raise $30,000. Tickets, $25 in advance, are available at TicketFly.com, by calling (585) 232-3221 or (585) 244-5044 or (585) 544-3500, or at 662 Monroe Ave. or the House of Guitars, 645 Titus Ave., Irondequoit. Remaining tickets will be $30 at the door. VIP seating is $45.

— The Webster Volunteer Fire Department, on behalf of the West Webster Fire Department, is selling benefit raffle tickets, $5 each, for the families of fallen firefighters Mike Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka. The raffle, for multiple prizes donated by local businesses, is being organized by a caring local business. Contact Steve Small, executive director, North East Joint Fire District, at (585) 872-9526 or go to www.nejfd.org to purchase tickets. Drawings will be held between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, at Applebee’s, 1955 Empire Blvd. Participants need not be present to win.

— Memorials may still be directed to a fund established for Lt. Mike “Chip” Chiapperini’s children at ESL Federal Credit Union (any branch).

— A fundraiser for the victims of the West Webster firefighters’ tragedy Dec. 24 was organized by Webster resident Thomas Doehler and will run through April 24. Donations are being accepted through Give Forward (www.giveforward.com), and a link may be found on the town of Webster’s website, www.ci.webster.ny.us.

— Hegedorn’s, at the corner of Hard and Ridge roads, is continuing to accept donations towards its goal of $20,000. Go to www.hegedornsmarket.com for more information, or contact pricing coordinator Mike Roesser at the store.

— Bob Metcalfe was part of the group of firefighters who responded to the call on Lake Road in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. Later that night, Metcalfe decided to help out the families of the victims by starting an online fundraiser at www.indiegogo.com/westwebsterfire. More than $6,000 was raised over a four-day period, far surpassing Metcalfe's original goal of $1,000. The fundraiser runs through Feb. 14. Donations may be made via credit card or PayPal.