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HOLLYWOOD VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD AUXILIARY HISTORY 1983 TO PRESENT
The Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Auxiliary was formed and incorporated in April 1983. The first meeting was held on May 18, 1983. The first president was Patti Joy. She was instrumental in getting the organization formed along with her able assistant, JoAllen Mattingly.
The Auxiliary sponsored it's first Fall Craft Show in 1987, there were 69 crafters selling their goods.
Membership in the auxiliary is open to any person, regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age or national origin, who was interested in supporting the purpose of the rescue squad. The dues were $2.00 per year. Members were expected to work and support all functions and activities of the Auxiliary.
As a means of raising funds for the financial support of the Rescue Squad the Auxiliary sponsored several projects each year, they included; Spring and Fall yard sales, Winter Craft Show, Monthly Breakfasts, Ham and Cabbage Dinner, Spaghetti Dinner and Smorgasbord Dinner.
In 1996-97 we supported the Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting at the HVFD. This event is co-sponsored by the Hollywood Optimist Club and the Fire Department. For several years we have assisted with the refreshments during Santa?s visit. We held six All-You-Can-Eat breakfast, and Auction and two Yard Sales. We joined the Rescue Squad Members for Chili Night, Seafood Night a bus trip to the Pottery Factory and a family picnic in Dorsey Park. In June some of us traveled to OceanCity to support Danny Davis, a member of HVFD who was being installed as the President of MSFA.
There were eighty two (82) crafters this year. The Auxiliary presented a check to the Rescue Squad for $ 8,500.00.
In 1997-98 the Craft Show became co-sponsored with the Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, the stuffed ham sandwiches were a big hit and there were eighty two (82) crafters this year. We again held six All-You-Can-Eat Breakfasts to feed our friends and neighbors during the year, along with a Ham and Cabbage Dinner, a Community Day at Sotterly, an Italian Night and a Mexican Night. In March of this year we purchased fatigue mats for the comfort of our workers and Paul Payne built a box to hold them. Yard Sales were held in June and October. We also participated in Christmas in April and the Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting at HVFD. THIS IS THE 15TH ANNIVERSAY OF THE HOLLYWOOD VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD AUXILIARY. The Auxiliary presented a check to the Rescue Squad for $ 12,000.00.
In 1998-99 Our last year of the twentieth century we had 117 vendor spaces rented for the Craft Show and a waiting list of fourteen more. In December we joined the Hollywood Optimist Club and the HVFD entertaining the children and adults of the community with the annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting and a visit by Mr and Mrs Claus. A group picture was taken after the Breakfast of all the Squad and Auxiliary Members. In April we assisted the Squad with an Easter Egg Hunt and hosted the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen?s Association Ladies Auxiliary for their meeting. It was a dinner meeting for over 120 people. In August we hosted the MSFA/EMS committee meeting where members from 25 different locations in Maryland were represented. The auxiliary prepared and served a luncheon. During the year we also had a Home Products Show, a Mexican Dinner, Roast Beef Dinner and several All-You-Can-Eat Breakfasts. We currently have 14 active members and 5 junior members. The Auxiliary presented a check to the Rescue Squad for $ 15,000.00.
In 1999-00 Two members were selected as the Auxiliary Member of the Year, JoAllen Mattingly and Diane Norris. The Rescue Squad donated two new crock pots to our cooking effort. We participated in the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at HVFD by serving cookies and punch to the kids after their visit with Santa. Several breakfasts were held thought the year along with a Home Products Show and a Mexican Dinner. The Auxiliary presented a check to the Rescue Squad for $ 16,000.00.
In 2000-01 a resolution was presented to Allen and Willie Gray on behalf of their mother, Ethel Gray, to acknowledge her service to our Auxiliary and her contributions to the community. The resolution had been prepared by SMVFALA. The first Chief of the Rescue Squad passed away in February. The annual Craft Show was sold out. A bus trip was scheduled to Dover Downs Racetrack. We participated in the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at HVFD by serving cookies and punch to the kids after their visit with Santa. In April the Auxiliary Members voted to join MSFALA with the anticipation that the Maryland Sate Income Tax Incentive Bill would be passed by the Maryland General assembly and that we would then be able to qualify to be eligible for the tax relief. It was approved in July of this year and became retro active to January. At the end of the year after 9 breakfasts, a Ham and Cabbage Dinner, a Spaghetti Dinner, a hand made Craft Auction and a yard sale, the Auxiliary presented a check to the Rescue Squad for $ 18,000.00.
In 2001-02 JoAllen Mattingly was the recipient of the Presidents award and the Rescue Squad presented the Auxiliary with a new griddle and new tables. The Craft Show was a sell-out event again, this time with 130 Craft Vendors. Anew monthly fundraiser was started this year by Tommy Alvey ? A Country Music Jam Session. This March a decision was made to drop Ham from the breakfast menu and add BACON. During the MSFALA Annual Convention our President Leone Gatton was inducted into the Ladies Auxiliary?s Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions over the years to the Auxiliary. A used stainless steel table and storage racks were purchased by the Auxiliary from the now closed Western Steer.
In 2002-03 Alice Allen President. The Auxiliary presented a check to the Rescue Squad for $ 22,000.00.
In 2003-04 Alice Allen President. The Auxiliary presented a check to the Rescue Squad for $ 25,000.00.
In 2004-05 Alice Allen President. The Auxiliary presented a check to the Rescue Squad for $ 30,000.00.
In 2005-06 Bob Brookins was elected to the office of President. The auxiliary is still a very small group of dedicated and selfless people who give of their time and money to support the community in which they live. The All-You-Can-Eat Breakfasts have continued to be a success with a record number of 346 people attending the Mothers Day Breakfast. New fundraising ideas have been introduced and will begin in the following year. The Auxiliary presented a check to the Rescue Squad for $ 18,000.00.
TO DATE THE HOLLYWOOD VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD AUXILIARY HAS DONATED MORE THAN $ 257,400.00 WITH THE $ 18,000.00 DONATED THIS YEAR IT WILL BRING THE TOTAL AMOUNT TO $ 275,400.00.
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