Why It Matters & How To Help
As firefighters and first responders, we see people on some of the worst days of their lives. Burn calls are some of the toughest. We do our job—put the fire out, treat the patient, get them to the hospital. But after that, their fight is just getting started. That’s where Burns Recovered and the Midwest Children’s Burn Camp come in.
Burns Recovered is a group that helps burn survivors and their families after the emergency is over. They focus on helping people heal—not just physically, but mentally too. They stay with these families long after we’ve cleared the scene. They help survivors adjust, connect with others, and rebuild their confidence.
What Is the Midwest Children’s Burn Camp?
This is one of the biggest things Burns Recovered does. The Burn Camp is a special camp just for kids who have suffered burn injuries. It gives them a chance to get away, be around other kids like them, and just be normal for a while. They swim, fish, play games, sit around the fire—typical camp stuff. But what really matters is this:
They’re around other kids who understand what they’ve been through. A lot of these kids struggle with confidence, scars, and feeling different. At camp, they don’t feel that way. They build friendships, gain confidence, and start to feel like themselves again. For many of them, it’s life-changing.
Why Should Fire Depts Care?
Because these are our patients. We’re there when they get hurt. Supporting something like this means we’re still helping them after the call is over. It’s an extension of what we already do—taking care of people.
What Can We Do?
This is where every fire department in Missouri can step up. You don’t have to be a big department to make a difference.
1. Do Fundraisers
Host something simple—pancake breakfasts, BBQs, golf tournaments, raffles, boot drives. It doesn’t have to be huge. Every bit helps.
2. Make It a Department Thing
Pick Burns Recovered as something your department supports every year. Even one event a year makes a difference.
3. Get the Community Involved
Talk about it. Post about it. Let people know where their money is going. People will support it—they just need to know.
4. Get Your Crew Involved
Encourage your guys to show up, help out, and spread the word. Firefighters carry a lot of weight in their communities—people listen.
5. Build a Connection
Reach out to Burns Recovered. Bring them in to talk. Learn more about what they do. When it becomes personal, it matters more.
Big or Small—It All Matters
Not every department can raise thousands of dollars—and that’s fine. A small department doing a fish fry or a boot drive still makes a real impact. If every department in Missouri does something, it adds up fast. At the end of the day, every dollar helps send a kid to camp.
The Bottom Line
Burn calls don’t end when we leave the scene. These kids and families have a long road ahead. Supporting Burns Recovered and the Midwest Children’s Burn Camp is one way we can keep helping—even after the call is over.
It’s simple: we take care of our people. This is just another way to do it.
FFAM
