It was raining for the first time in months, and everyone was very happy for the rain, but it made Walker Day different than years past.

Johnny sent out an email to everyone at 8:00am that said:

Hey folks,

It’s the Walker Day final up-date

Amen for the rain. It’s a start. Bring your umbrella’s and show that unquenchable Walker spirit!

Please car pool down as much as possible and try to leave the closer spaces for our guests. I would recommend the Hummingbird Hill parking lot as it is only about 1/4 mile from the station. We have permission to use it. I’m sure someone would drive you back if necessary.

I can always use extra hands from time to time. Please check in with me as you find you have finished your previous task.

We covered all the yard sale items yesterday so they will be fresh and ready to sell today from 9-1.

See ya’ll at Walker Day!

Johnny O

We pressed on with our unquenchable spirit, and held Walker Day in the rain.

Johnny later described Walker Day this way:

Hey Folks,

Thanks to everyone that braved the elements to show their support for our local fire department. It was a bittersweet Walker Day this year.

We desperately needed rain, though it started about an two hours before and ended two hours after the festivities began. Bad timing, but it actually ended up being kind of a sweet, intimate crowd of understanding and happy visitors. I saw many new faces from around the greater Prescott community and I’ve had many contacts from those that didn’t come, but are already looking forward to next year.

Thanks to the more than 50 volunteers that it takes to run an event like this. There are soooo many moving parts. I’m not even sure who does all the things that need to be done. I just know that at the end of the day, they all got done. Thanks to all who donated to the yard sale, especially to Ed and Mary Antonowitz who donated 200 boxes of antiques, collectibles and such from three generations they had in storage. I give my heartfelt thanks to the team of a dozen volunteers that worked diligently for three days on the yard sale. Even when the rain was beating down on us, we popped up canopies and kept on selling.

Early on, it was obvious that the entire “Walker Day” would have to be set-up inside the station. The band, Walker merchandise, kids games, cake walk and cakes, food (just outside)…oh and people too. It was a miracle, but it all fit. Thank God I didn’t sell artist spaces, have any classic cars show up and decided against the silent auction for this year. We ran it on the fly. Completely unrehearsed and thanks to the unquenchable Walker spirit, It worked. I’m sure all that attended will remember it forever.

The bottom line was pretty impressive. We deposited over $10,300. About $6000 was profit from the Walker Day yard sale, food and the cake walk. We collected over $2500 in annual contributions, $500 in the “donation” jar and $1400 from merchandise sales. Thanks to the sponsors that covered most of our expenses. Gene Tomek has sponsored the food for years. Now that Walker Day has grown, Conrad Walton, “Realty One Group” now picks up the other 1/2 of those expenses. Nick Wold of “Walker WiFi” and his wife Jill Anderson, “Sotheby’s Realty” purchased all the soft drinks.

The Walker Community Church, (meets every Sunday, 10:30 on Sunday school Rd), donated 500 bottles of water. Walmart and Costco always kick in something as well.

Finally, thanks to the band who entertains us out of the goodness of their hearts.

What a blessing it is to live in such a beautiful, vibrant community. I’m proud to be a part of it, though I still can’t believe you guys give me a microphone!

See you all on September 2nd for our firefighter appreciation day pig roast.

Johnny O
Fundraising chairman