LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — It happens once a year and it saves lives. Firefighters, Farmers Insurance and Community Foundation of the Lake will team up to give away free smoke detectors from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, July 14, at Hy-Vee in Osage Beach.
Hundreds of Lake area residents will come for the free detectors, family fun, fire safety education and refreshments. Fire Districts have committed to installing the free detectors for those not able or comfortable with doing it themselves.
“It would be wonderful if we accomplished our mission… that would mean no one would come to the event because everyone has the smoke detectors they need,” said Chris Wagner with The Wagner Insurance Agency.
But the demand keeps growing.
Farmers Insurance has funded $30,000 in three years toward the distribution of thousands of smoke detectors throughout the Lake area.
“We thought last year’s event on the West Side of the Lake would be smaller than the first event, but we were wrong,” Wagner said. “People lined up 45 minutes before the event and we were giving them out as fast as we could for three and a half hours. So, we’re bringing the event back to the east side and doing it again.”
This is the third year in a row that the Community Foundation of the Lake has received a $10,000 grant from Farmers Insurance in support of the local Disaster Recovery Fund and The Great Smoke Detector Giveaway event, according to Rick Kruse, Vice Chairman of the Farmers Insurance Board of Governors and Board Member of Community Foundation of the Lake.
"Farmers Insurance historically has been one of the first on the ground to respond when a disaster strikes,” Kruse said. “In the spirit of preparedness, the Great Smoke Detector Giveaway is a proactive event.”
Detectors are the first line of defense to get everyone out alive in the event of fire.
When Above and Beyond Roofing Owner Ben Krokson learned about the event, he donated another $2,500 to the cause.
Then, A-Z Home Services & Restoration gave $1,000.
The event continues to be sponsored by Farmers Insurance, The Wagner Insurance Agency, CFL, Menards, Central Bank of Lake of the Ozarks, LakeExpo.com and Smart Postal Centers.
DISASTER RECOVERY FUND
Community Foundation of the Lake is actively raising funds to support the local community through the Disaster Recovery Fund.
The CFL Disaster Recovery Fund has been created to assist in local readiness and relief efforts. Lake area residents have fallen victim to flood, tornadoes and fire. CFL believes locals know best how to meet immediate needs, especially when there’s no warning of a catastrophe, time is short and lives hang in the balance.
“It is CFL’s goal to make sure local people in need do not fall through the cracks after being victimized by disaster,” said CFL President Amanda Fagan.
