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'Shop with a Fireman' provides for 7 families
By KALEA hall
YOUNGSTOWN
Dick Frost recalls the touching moments of passing out gift cards to various Austintown families in need for Christmas with the Austintown Fire Departments as tearjerkers.
“I am emotional, so I am a crier,” Frost said. “It’s very rewarding.”
Frost, who heads the car shows at Quaker Steak and Lube in Austintown that happen throughout the warm months every Sunday, paired up with the Austintown Fire Department to hand out $4,700 in gift cards to seven families a week before Christmas for the “Shop with a Fireman” program.
“For years, I have always been into charity work, and it has focused on kids,” Frost said.
Frost also is a car enthusiast and decided to tie his love of cars to his love of giving eight years ago when he started the Quaker Steak and Lube car show in Austintown.
Now, the show brings in as many as 700 cars, which helps Frost and a dedicated group of people raise money for families in need.
The money comes from the sale of T-shirts and raffle tickets, plus donations.
Previously, they just handed out donations to families in the area they knew needed help, but last year they started “Shop with a Fireman” and raised $3,500.
“We have enough connections that we have the right families,” Frost said.
School counselors provide them with names of students in families that may be struggling, especially during the holiday season.
The Austintown Fire Department makes appearances at the car shows to encourage donations for the program. The firefighters also deliver the gift cards to the families.
Frost said the families are all happy to receive the gifts and both they and the firefighters became emotional.
“Hopefully, next year we can go from $4,700 to $5,500,” Frost said.