Firefighters, volunteers deliver gifts to Burn Unit patients at Hennepin Healthcare

Image 1 of 3

Firefighters and volunteers brought a little brightness to those in the Burn Unit at Hennepin Healthcare Tuesday morning.

After a weekend of shopping, Firefighters for Healing loaded up fire trucks with wrapped toys and gifts and brought them down to the patients in Minneapolis.

The community was greeted by members of the Minneapolis Fire Department, Firefighters for Healing volunteers, and VOICE contestant Esera Tuaolo.

One of the patients included Chuck Cook, a veteran pilot who was flying his 1955 T-28 Warbird during a flyover this summer at Anoka County-Blaine Airport when there was a fire and he was badly burned in a crash landing.

“We want patients to feel a joy and comfort, families and caregivers to feel a moment of relief, burn unit staff to feel our love and support and volunteers to feel energized to do even more,” explains Jake LaFerriere, former Minneapolis firefighter and founder of Firefighters for Healing. “The age range of patients and the stories of how they were burned compounds the emotions we experience each year we do this.”

Statement from Charles Cook:

A few months ago when I was unable to speak for myself my family encouraged everyone to support Camp RED – which is a wonderful camp for young burn survivors run by the Firefighters for Healing organization. I couldn’t agree more with their recommendation, and I thank Firefighters for Healing for all of the outstanding work they do to help burn patients and their families. 

I also want to thank HCMC’s Burn Unit and everyone who has taken care of me through this journey I never imagined I’d be taking. I continue to improve each day and look forward to going home from the hospital very soon.

Enjoy this holiday season with your families and treasure each and every moment.