Fire district seeks to clarify origin of phone calls soliticing funds

The union will use the funds to help its members and the community.
CANFIELD -- The Cardinal Joint Fire District wants residents to know that the district is not having a fundraiser -- however, a firefighters union is having one.
Fire Chief Robert Tieche and fire district board President Paul Moracco said they've heard that telemarketers are calling residents to solicit donations for "the Canfield Fire Department."
The fire district said the International Association of Firefighters Local 4507 is soliciting funds for activities. The local is a separate organization.
Fire district board president Paul Moracco said the district, following legal advice, wants it made clear who is the beneficiary of the fund drive.
Fred Marcum, president of the union local, said Encore Music Productions of Boardman was hired to solicit donations for the local.
He said he spoke with Encore representatives who assured him they are not soliciting in the name of the "Canfield Fire Department." He said they told him they are using the name of the local.
The fundraiser's purpose
Marcum said the solicitors are also telling residents that they can drop off old ink cartridges and cell phones at the district fire stations. The Magnuson Foundation is collecting those for its "Make a Difference-Random Acts of Kindness" campaign for people in need.
He said if people are becoming confused about who is doing the fundraising, it's unintentional.
He said the local is trying to raise funds to benefit the community. The money will be used, he said, to support a scholarship fund, to benefit local sports and to provide aid to firefighters and their families after a tragedy.
The fundraiser began Monday, and will continue for six weeks, Marcum said.
The local, made up of six full-time firefighters, is official but does not yet have a contract with the district, he said.