The Firefighters and Police Officers of Dalton Scholarship Benefit Dinner was a success on Monday night as members of the community came out in force to support the fundraiser for a scholarship endowment at Dalton State College.
The scholarship endowment will benefit the family of a Dalton Police Officer and a Dalton Firefighter each year.
A large crowd gathered at the Dalton Depot Restaurant and Trackside Cafe for a barbecue dinner at $10 a plate. Many more took advantage of the curbside takeaway service. And, the blues band Cherry Vendetta performed.
Police and firefighters weren't just spectators at the event, however. They took over the duties of restaurant wait staff, refilling drinks and clearing tables, and also handing out food in the drive-through. They even joined forces with the kitchen staff, cooking barbecue alongside Dalton Depot owner T.J. Kaikobad, who helped to organize the event. The Dalton Depot sponsored the fundraiser along with the Dalton Hospitality Association, but it was Kaikobad himself who came up with the original idea for a scholarship endowment.
"This effort really plants the seed for the generations that come after a lot of the folks we have at the police and fire departments now," said Dalton Police Chief Jason Parker. "Some of our very young employees, their children will benefit but what we're doing is we're putting a legacy in place that as the generations go forward, we think there will be a lot of benefit for those children of police and firefighters."
An official tally of how much money the fundraiser brought in won't be ready for a few days, but it's already certain that it's a great start for the scholarship endowment.
Click play below to watch video of the event (video may take a moment to load).
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