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Sable Flames, 100 Black Men of Madison team up to help food-insecure families

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“We just want to make sure that right now in this tough time with the coronavirus pandemic and the social unrest and everything going on that families of color that really need help get the things that they need,” says Madison firefighter William Boone. “We want them to know that we are here for them.”

Boone is both the treasurer for the Sable Flames, the African American full-time firefighters of the Madison Fire Department, and a member of the 100 Black Men of Madison. Both groups have just started a collaboration called “Helping Those Who Help Others,” an initiative to feed families in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

Monies for the purchase of non-perishable food is a dollar for dollar match from both organizations. The 100 Black Men of Madison identify potential recipients and their nutritional needs and Sable Flames delivered the first four groups of groceries this Monday. Medic 2, of Madison Fire Department Station #2 on Madison’s west side, which included two Sable Flames members, delivered the food to the families.

“We ask the families what else they might need and they gave us a list a list of groceries that were needed and shopped and delivered food to families that 100 Black Men of Madison identified,” Boone says.

William Boone is a member of the Sable Flames and the 100 Black Men of Madison.

“Helping Those Who Help Others” first started when Dr. Floyd Rose, president of the 100 Black Men of Madison, approached Boone with the idea to get fundraising money through 100 Black Men to get groceries for different families in need in the community.

“Both organizations would work together and the Sable Flames would do it on duty and have some off-duty members help them just in case they had to go on a call,” Boone says. 

When Sable Flame members go out to get their groceries for their respective firehouses, they would also get food for the families.

“The reason why we came up with that idea is that we are working anyways and we go shopping for ourselves during the day, so why not do it with whatever crew we decide to use that day,” Boone says.

Dr. Rose talked to Mahlon Mitchell, the firefighters union president, and former president of the Sable Flames, about developing the partnership. “The Fire Fighters Local 311 matched the donation of the 100 Black Men so we are at $1,000 right now and have decided to find 10 families in need to give them $100 worth of groceries,” Boone says.

The goal for the 100 Black Men of Madison, Boone says, was to get this started with the Sable Flames but then to put it out to the police department, nurses, doctors, and other occupations to join in.

“We just wanted to break the ice in the community and get people back to feeling good and to build that trust again,” Boone says. “That’s something that we need.

Brandon Troia and Jadon Beehner grocery shop for families.

“You can go to hospitals or be with the fire department and somebody comes to your house and a lot of times as people of color – and growing up in New York City, I get it – they put up a wall and are not open to people until you see someone who looks like you,” Boone adds. “So with this initiative, we wanted to make sure we had Sable Flames members there but also just have crews from other fire departments come in and show that, ‘Hey, we’re not here for a call. We’re here to show that we care about you.’”

An overall goal of the “Helping Those Who Help Others” initiative is to build community and build trust. 

“There are a ton of issues popping up and some people are really going through rough times right now,” Boone says. “We want people to know we haven’t forgotten about them and that we’re here to help.”

If funds are available, the current goal is to provide food to 100 low-income families within the next 100 days.

“Our plan is to do this all year round. We’d like to do this more often and would love to see the community support it,” Boone says.

 

Community members looking to donate to 100 Black Men of Madison can do so here.