Local Nonprofit Spotlight: Firefighters for Healing
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 2:58AMArticle by Becky Fillinger, photos provided
When you witness our brave first responders, like firefighters, in action you might have asked how you can show appreciation for their efforts. Wonder no more! Check out Firefighters for Healing. We talked to Jake LaFerriere, Founder and Executive Director, about the group and ways to participate in their mission.
Jake with Onna, a burn survivor
Q: Jake, can you tell us more about your story and what inspired Firefighters for Healing?
A: I was a firefighter for 13 years until July 3, 2010 when I was injured in a backdraft explosion. While recovering at the Hennepin Healthcare Burn Center, I was introduced to two brothers enduring the same physical and emotional pain. Their family was homeless and the brothers were being treated for burns they sustained while playing with matches in a tent - innocent fun that cost them dearly. With that one exchange, life took on new meaning for me. With the help of family and friends, I started Firefighters for Healing. The board has grown but the constant thread is that members are smart, kind and generous.
Q: Since your accident in 2010, Firefighters for Healing has evolved to help burn survivors and first responders heal and find support. What is your mission and what services are you providing?
A: We believe the patients are not victims, but survivors. The physical, emotional and mental fatigue they endure during recovery helps them to overcome and one day thrive. These children and adults have to be strong, brave and determined to embrace their scars and return to a new normal.
Firefighters For Healing brings hampers of care items to the patients and nurses; we provide gift cards for gas, groceries and clothing; we provide emergency housing for families to stay near the burn unit. What people might not know is that families may have driven more than 4 hours from home for the level 1 burn center. These families might be away from home for 3-8 weeks while their patient is in surgery, recovery, physical therapy and laser treatments. Firefighters For Healing also provides a residential Camp each summer for 6 to 16 years old children.
Even in this day of medical advances, a burn trauma leaves painful, long-lasting scars that are emotionally and physically devastating. Firefighters For Healing is honored to help survivors heal unseen scars, promote their self-esteem and start the journey to lifelong confidence.
Q: Tell us more about your partners who assist your mission to aid burn survivor families.
A: While progress has been made, there is still great ground to cover. We are thankful to Kraus Anderson, Sherman Associates and Thrivent for helping us to build the Transitional Healing Center. To help expand our reach across the five-state region, we have partners like Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, Alerus Bank and Robins Kaplan to thank. We are also so thankful for the nurses and surgeons at Hennepin Healthcare who advocate for their patients who deserve this kind of support. The fire may be out, but the battle is just beginning. If you would like to join our incredible list of event sponsors and donors, visit firefightersforhealing.org today!
Camp RED attendees and volunteers
Q: You put a focus on children who have survived burn trauma with Camp RED. Can you tell us more about that camp and its goals?
A: Camp RED, which stands for Realize Every Dream, is a 4-day residential camp program for 6 - 16 year old children who have survived burn trauma. Camp RED provides an opportunity for burn survivors to live beyond their scars and Realize Every Dream for a better tomorrow.
Early on in designing camp curriculum, we understood that words matter. We never use the word victim because it means the event happened to the person and that the story ended there. Instead, we use the term survivor because the patient was injured but then gained strength. They leaned on faith, hope and love to be strong willed and determined to get healthier, stronger and embrace their new normal. Our goal is that all campers will grow in confidence and be smart and brave to tackle each new day.
During each day at camp, we have witnessed pure magic. With a combination of nature, culture, people and activities – our campers replace frowns with smiles. They leave feeling more comfortable showing or exposing scars and splashing in the water with other campers. They exchange their pain and anxiety for new ways to cope and fresh confidence.
Annual Christmas Blessing Gift Drop
Q: You have impacted so many lives over the years. Are there any success stories you’d like to share?
A: We have been blessed to meet patients and are inspired by their resilience and attitude. Something tragic happened to them but they are survivors who chose to live each day to the fullest, love their family with all they’ve got and do their best at school. Their physical scars you can see are very real but what I am most proud of are the emotional scars they have dealt with and how our programs and services have helped them heal. It breaks my heart that these things happen to children, but they are stronger than we think!!
KARE11 clip of the May 19, 2021 Transitional Healing Center groundbreaking ceremony.
Q: You have bigger plans underway for a Transitional Healing Center, part of the Moment development in downtown Minneapolis near HCMC. Can you tell us more about that space and its purpose?
A: In partnership with Sherman Associates, Kraus Anderson and Thrivent we are building a one of a kind, Midwest-first, 15,000-square-foot transitional Healing Center. This Healing Center will include 12 fully furnished suites with their own in-suite laundry and kitchenettes, therapy pods, and community space. Firefighters For Healing intends to provide rental offices for other nonprofits or providers to bring their services to our patient families. This calm and therapeutic environment will provide the needed space for families to gather and recharge and patients to transition to before heading all the way home.
Q: How can we help make this a reality and support Firefighters for Healing?
A: We encourage you to visit firefightersforhealing.org, check out upcoming events, share a video, invite a friend to join you at an event, donate or sign up for our newsletter. We are always looking for more volunteers, gala sponsors and community partners.
Email info@firefightersforhealing.org or fill out the Contact Us form on our website.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter: firefightersforhealing.org/newsletter
Plan to attend our events: firefightersforhealing.org/events
Volunteer from anywhere in Minnesota, the Dakotas or Wisconsin: firefightersforhealing.org/volunteer
Follow us on social Media: Instagram| LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter
Make a meaningful donation: firefightersforhealing.org/donate
Nominate a Hero: firefightersforhealing.org/heroofthemonth
