March 22, 2022
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Since 2017, the DeKalb Emergency Services Association (DESA) has prepared and delivered over 4,500 meals during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. DESA provides local emergency services members with scholarships for their high school graduates. DESA also sponsors and supports Camp Phoenix.
The holiday meals are prepared, packaged, and delivered by volunteers on Thanksgiving Day, as well as Christmas Eve. This year, DESA was also able to provide a sack lunch for recipients.
“The Association is blessed to have many community partners who help us make these efforts possible,” said DESA spokesman Blake Cantrell.
The educational scholarships for dependents of DESA members are awarded during the high school’s senior awards program and are in the amount of $500 each.
Camp Phoenix, a week-long camp for children with burn injuries, is hosted in DeKalb County at Indian Creek Youth Camp. DESA supports Camp Phoenix and the Tennessee Burn Foundation in many ways, including providing a meal and hosting a daily activity.
“DESA relies on fundraisers and individual donations to do all of these benevolent activities to promote the caring nature of our emergency service personnel and our wonderful county,” said Cantrell.
You can be a part of supporting DESA’s future activities by participating in the upcoming DESA Cake/Pie Auction on Saturday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m. at the DeKalb Community Complex. Auction items will include sweet treat items from some of the most well-known cake/pie masters in the area.
If you are a dessert master and would be willing to provide homemade auction items, please call or text 615-390-0189.
Please make plans to come out and support this great cause.