Calvin Goes To The Prom - In Style

17 year-old Calvin has cancer and missed his school prom at McClymonds High School because of his diagnosis. His social worker at Oakland Children's Hospital contacted Random Acts after she did some research and found a non-profit organization called Shiri Foundation that puts on proms for kids with cancer. Random Acts got Calvin the tuxedo, the corsage for his date, and a boutonniere for his lapel. The fire crew from Station 5 delivered the tuxedo to Calvin which he had picked out, and they threw in some spending money for him out of their pockets. Black Tie Transportation donated the limousine ride to San Francisco. (Thank You Black Tie!!) This was kept a secret from Calvin because his mom wanted it to be a surprise. So, on the evening of the prom when he asked his mom how he was going to get there, she pointed to an old dilapidated pick-up truck that was parked out in front of their apartment and told him he was going in that. So, you can imagine his amazement when the shiny black stretch limousine pulled up. And, he wasn't the only one in shock. All his neighbors we're going crazy with excitement too because this was the first time they had ever seen a limousine in their neighborhood. Total strangers were taking pictures of Calvin and the limo. He was definitely the man of the hour, and his chauffeur drove him off in style to the prom. ABC-TV News did a story that evening about the Shiri Foundation Prom, and there was Calvin on TV dancing the night away.

Healing After the Fire

Last Sunday, Capt. Bob Nylander and Station 20 responded to a classroom fire at Sobrante Park Elementary School. Today, Station 20 returned to the school to bring some gifts and some healing to the students and their teacher, Ms. Becerra, who were using a temporary classroom on their last day of school. Random Acts fulfilled most of the items on her Wish List for the class with things that we already had in stock - books, office supplies, canvas school bags filled with school supplies for each child, crayons, coloring books, pencils, a new office chair, a CD player, and stuffed animals. We will return to visit again when the school reopens in the Fall to help replace other supplies that were lost in the fire. The stuffed animals were especially healing for the children. When one of the students noticed that a teacher looked close to tears, he went up to her and said, "You look sad. I think you need a stuffed animal". And, he gave the teacher his stuffed animal. That really brought her to tears.

40 Turkies for Thanksgiving

Station 3 delivered 40 Thanksgiving turkies to the Western Service Workers Association at a West Oakland church.

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Toy Donations

Station 1 helps pick up toys that were collected by the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church for the Random Acts Holiday Toy Drive. Thanks guys!!

2007 Wheelchair Regatta

Oakland Firefighters participated in the Annual Wheelchair Regatta at the Encinal Yacht Club in Alameda. Boat owners donate their time and vessels to take hospitalized war Veterans out on a cruise around the Bay. Vets are bussed in from Veteran Hospitals from around the Bay Area and get the opportunity to spend a day away from institutionalized life. Oakland Firefighters, along with Coast Guard and Sheriff Department volunteers, help to carry the Veterans in their wheelchairs on and off the boats. After the boat ride around the Bay, the Veterans enjoy a BBQ lunch and share a few war stories.