The American Red Cross blood donation drive that was cancelled this past winter due to weather and COVID has been rescheduled for Thursday, August 25th. All blood types are needed, so feel free to SIGN UP HERE and join our community in helping to support the American Red Cross providing life-saving blood to area medical facilities when they need them most. And also, come hang out with Gahanna’s most favorite ladder crew.

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Local 2818 has participated in area NFFF stair climbs for several years, and we are proud to again participate this year to help raise funds for the NFFF and lend support to for families and friends of fallen firefighters.

The NFFF 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs is a way to honor and remember the FDNY firefighters who selflessly gave their lives so that others might live on September 11, 2001. Each participant pays tribute to a FDNY firefighter by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. Your individual tribute not only remembers the sacrifice of a FDNY brother, but symbolically completes their heroic  journey to save others. Through firefighter and community participation we can ensure that each of the 343 firefighters is honored and that the world knows we will never forget.

The Stair Climbs fund the programs provided by the NFFF to support the families of your local fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit.

Local 2818 is proud to partner with Franklin Township Local 1441 and Firefighter-owned Heart State Brewery to host a remembrance and fundraising event on Saturday, September 11th, honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11/01. Heart State will be brewing a special firefighter themed beer with 100% of the profits going to charity; proceeds will be split equally between the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Franklin Township Community Fund. Heart State will be open 11AM-11PM on Saturday. We look forward to seeing everyone.

First responders and other participants elevated fallen heroes Sunday (September 8) during the sixth annual Columbus 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Close to 500 people climbed to the top of the Chase building in downtown Columbus five times to equal the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.

“First and foremost, I think it’s important to understand the sacrifice they went through on September 11th. It’s very humbling to go through something like this,” said Granville Twp. Fire Lt. Ryan Hussey. Hussey was among the firefighters fully suited in almost 80 pounds of equipment for the climb. He explained it was not only a physical test, but also a tribute to the conditions fallen firefighters would have encountered during September 11th.

“They went in there just like any other emergency like we all do in our communities every day,” he said. “They had no idea what they were walking into and the challenges that they were faced with.” The annual event is organized by and raises money for nonprofits 24-7 Commitment and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The organizations support families of current and fallen firefighters.

The 2019 climb aimed to raise $30,000 locally.

Others around the country are holding similar events during the 9/11 anniversary week.