Over the years, calendars featuring firefighters have become popular stocking stuffers. Filled with men wearing some or all of their firefighting gear, the calendars are often put together to raise money for one cause or another.
Since the calendars usually go over quite well, local woman Cindy Weir came up with the idea of making them for Manor's firefighters. She approached Manor's fire chief, Troy Chapman, with the idea of putting together a calendar featuring Manor's local firefighters and before long things were moving ahead
Weir agreed in advance to do all the photography for the calendar therefore, it was simply a matter of ensuring the rest of the department was on board.
While not everyone agreed to pose in the calendar, Chapman said there were enough members on board to be photographed to go ahead.
"There were guys there who weren't reluctant [to be photographed]," said Chapman. "They were just happy to get their picture taken with the fire jacket on. We didn't make anyone do anything they weren't comfortable with. Whatever [they] were comfortable with [they] went ahead and did, [and] the more that [they] could do, the more it would help to sell the calendars."
He wanted to ensure the whole project was fun for the guys being photographed, this way it would ease any apprehensions. When all was said and done, Chapman said everyone had a great time and really enjoyed the whole experience.
"We wanted to do it in a single day, but it was tough to get everyone together because their schedules were so busy," said Chapman. "But we did manage in the end to get everybody together and we had a lot of fun doing it."
The photographs were taken in the first week of November, the calendar has been designed and now the guys are waiting to receive the printed copies. They will be sold for a to-be-determined price in Manor.
"They can come to our store here, 'Get It and Go Convenience,' [in Manor] or the town office [in Manor]," said Chapman. "Those will be the two places where it will be available for purchase."
Chapman is quite excited to see the calendars go on sale in the near future, and he hopes to see the project raise enough funds to allow the fire department to begin purchasing the new equipment it requires.
"The proceeds go to the fire department because we are looking at buying some new equipment," said Chapman. "It's time to update and we though that would be a heck of a deal for a fundraiser. Everyone was on board [with the fundraiser]. We hope that they go over well."
Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of the department and the men who agreed to become models.
"I'd like to thank all the guys who did the calendar," said Chapman. "Without those guys doing it, we'd have no calendar."
