Resident Dedicates Time to BFD for Love of Helping Others

Welcome to Names in the News, Southeast-Brewster Patch's new weekly column, where we introduce you to a local face.

For the inaugural installment, we sat down with LuAnn Edele (LE), a woman who has lived in Brewster for 18 years. LuAnn serves on the ambulance crew at the  (BFD), and she's involved in the monthly fundraiser dinners. She also serves as the president of the Putnam County Volunteer Firemen's Association Ladies Auxiliary, and a member of the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association Ladies Auxiliary.

Patch: When did you first become involved with the BFD?

LE: I started in 2002 with the [Ladies] Auxiliary ... friends of mine were in it ... The Auxiliary's main function is to support the department and to help the community—they'll be at the fire house after a call to provide food, sometimes they'll bring it up to the fire scenes, they also host fundraisers, they give scholarships to the high schoolers ... Last year, I jumped and went to the Department. So I've been in the Department for a little over year. I'm a member on the ambulance side.

Patch: What made you make the switch?

LE: I found myself wanting to do more and more for the community, and it just started to appeal to me more. I'm on ambulance crew two nights a week. I love it. 

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Patch: How did you prepare yourself for the change?

LE: You say to yourself, can I handle what I'm going to see? And that's just a learning thing. You learn as you go along. I'm actually in EMT class. Right now I'm an attendant. We have a great team. I like being out there and being able to help people. I find it rewarding to be able to be there for someone who is frightened. 

Patch: Did you always have a desire to serve in this capacity?

LE: As a little girl, I did want to be a nurse, and then that went out of my mind. But last year I realized it probably is something I never really got rid of.

Patch: We see your emails—which are always so upbeat—about the Department's all the time. How long have you been involved with those?

LE: Years ago they had the dinners, then they sort of faded away, and then about four years ago they resumed. I've been helping with the organization since then. I just sort of gravitated to that part of it, because my career is marketing. I write my emails as if I'm talking to someone.

Patch: Are you involved with the dinners beyond helping to spread the word?

LE: I help out with the shopping and the food preparation. I work at the event that night ... I bake the desserts from home. We usually have about 10 items, so that's a big selling point for us. Ed Butler [BFD member, past chief] does the cooking. Sometimes I help with side dishes ...  Most of the day Saturday is spent preparing: setting up the room with tablecloths and themes. That's something I enjoy.

A lot of our patrons are repeats, and it's become like a family there. Everybody knows everybody; it's very laid back and causal. The Department members help out, and so do the Auxiliary members. We have a good team, so we're able to cater to our patrons. 

Patch: How many people usually attend, and what would you say to folks who have not yet been?

LE: On average, about 50 people. It depends on the month. We get a lot of guests from the Southeast Seniors and the too. We don't usually get too many kids, but it is open to them ... That night, we transform the place into a little restaurant. It's a very comfortable atmosphere. The food is good. You definitely don't go home hungry. The value is there. We really open our doors.

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