Who Are We?

Every year firefighters across the nation respond to millions of 911 calls. Many involve a death, the destruction of personal property, or other damage to the fabric of our communities. We witness people who are suddenly faced with tests to the very limits of their bravery and endurance, sometimes heroically and sometimes tragically. Over the years we firefighters have found ourselves subjected to some physical and emotional distress in the course of our service, but we continue to respond in a professional way and support our side of society's safety net. The Oakland Firefighters Random Acts initiative has been founded by individual firefighters who truly believe we can make a positive difference in other ways besides our emergency response work. We are a registered 501(c)(3) tax exempt charity, with a simple aim - to help our fellow firefighters give something extra back to the communities they live in and care for. With a board made up of diverse individuals of many ranks, serving on a purely voluntary basis, we aim to fulfill our mission statement: "Creating a positive difference in the lives of Individuals through Random Acts of Kindness." Our motto "No Egos, Badges or Resumes" means simply that the program is for everyone in our department, and all we want is a commitment from the heart - not a reflection of ego, status or ambition. Because everyday firefighting brings us up close with the lives of people who truly need a hand to get by, we provide a channel for our colleagues to bring donations or their requests for help. A central location has been set up to hear suggestions and donations, and our board has granted requests for such items as a clothes-dryer for a senior citizen, food for a high-school teacher's mentoring program, hygiene kits and supplies for a local citizen outreach program, and teamed up with the U.S. Postal Service for Operation Santa. Our grassroots organization is also an outlet for firefighters to get support for their own outreach initiatives and interests. An Oakland Firefighter who was a former Oakland school teacher has created a Random Acts of Reading group for elementary schools. Working through the Random Acts network he has been gathering volunteers and reading to children from Oakland's inner city areas. Recently a request from an unnamed Captain was granted when he presented 20 Harry Potter books to the class he has been reading to. Others have brought their passion for helping children with disabilities, or burn survivors, and found Random Acts a source of practical and financial support. This year we also created a Citizen Award - a way to identify and celebrate silent citizen heroes who have gone to extraordinary lengths to help others in trouble or at risk. The thinking behind a program like this is that as we return from our 60,000-plus 911 calls around Oakland each year, firefighters can be empowered to plant positive seeds in their districts and create lasting memories for themselves. Human Interaction that produces laughter or tears of joy is a fine medicine for us and our community. We invite you to join our supporters, including the staff of the San Francisco office of news and information company Reuters America and many individuals. With a donation your organization can support a program that is a clear win for all involved. Contact us for more information or a presentation. See some of the Random Acts performed so far.