GRAVOIS MILLS, Mo. — Gravois Mills Firefighters are helping children who were injured by fire to recover and heal at a special burn camp at Lake of the Ozarks.
The Gravois Fire Protection District held their annual rib fundraiser Thursday, June 30 through Sunday, July 3 at their administration building in Laurie. The melt-in-your mouth juicy barbeque ribs are lovingly smoked to perfection, making them a favorite of locals and tourist alike. The district generally sells approximately 300 ribs per fundraiser, at a cost of $20 each. “We only buy top quality meat and we use a secret rub that has been formulated over the last 10 years,” GFPD Firefighter Terry Maddox said.
All funds raised go to help burn injured children ages 6 to 17, to attend the Midwest Children’s Burn Camp (MCBC) which is located at Camp Sabra, on 960 acres at the Lake of the Ozarks. The cost for burn camp is $2,500 per child and no child is required to pay to attend.
The camp’s purpose is to challenge burn-injured children to be the best they can be and to expand their strengths and skills to the fullest. MCBC works to provide freedom from rejection, isolation, loneliness, and frustration that burn survivors can experience.
“Many times kids make fun of them because of their appearance, and the goal of the camp is to give them a renewed sense of independence and confidence,” GFPD Firefighter Jim Hynick said. MCBC unites burn survivors, helping them play, heal, grow, and support each other after tragic and life-altering burns.
Children enjoy boating, fishing, archery, hiking, zip-lining, swimming crafts and more. “Children that are burned do not sweat so they can quickly over-heat,” Hynick explained. “Each one has their own counselor to care for them.”
Physical healing from burn injuries has unique challenges: emotional healing from the trauma can also be very overwhelming. Complete recovery requires care for the whole person. Burns Recovered also offers peer-to-peer support, group meetings, and ongoing contact and support to provide the essential tools to assist burn survivors in their recovery. For information call 314 997-2757.
The GFPD firefighters will hold their next rib sale on Labor Day 2016. To pre-order ribs or to donate money, call 573-374-4442.
