Sink your teeth into East Dundee firefighters' meat raffle

East Dundee firefighters are depending on the success of the annual meat sales to carry their fundraising goals for the year.

They won't have the summer barbecue as they have had in years past; they will just sell packages of chicken, steaks, and pork chops. That sale will take place from 3-11 p.m. Saturday, July 14, in Max Freeman Park.

Last year the sale brought in $1,500, said Paula Roland, treasurer of the East Dundee Firefighters' Association. Association members sponsor the sale.

“This is the best fundraiser we have,” she said. “We didn't make any money on last year's (barbecue) picnic.”

As in past years, the sale will be run as a raffle. People will buy tickets for 50 cents and a dollar, depending on the content on the meat packages. A wheel with numbers on it will be spun and whatever number it stops at, will be the winner.

Food will also be sold during the sale and live music will be performed.

After paying for the cases of meat, whatever money is left over will pay for the department's public education program and maintenance of Freeman Park, which the fire district owns.

Besides giving local residents an opportunity to fill their freezers with inexpensive meat, the sale has another purpose, Roland said.

“It gives the community a chance to meet local firefighters and paramedics,” she said. “This is the third year the association has had the sale. It has become an important community event.”

It replaces other fundraisers the association has sponsored. Those fundraisers include the annual turkey raffle at Thanksgiving and the summer carnival.

The turkey raffle ended because its popularity outgrew the Third Street fire station where it was held. The carnival ended because amusement companies refused to provide rides because it was such a small event.

Proceeds from those fundraisers were used to pay for clothing and equipment the fire district's budget could not afford.

For more information about the raffle, call (847) 426-7521.