Anne McAndrew, front, and her crew were hard at work Sunday serving up breakfast to steady stream of customers to raise money for the fire department. The"Big Win" breakfasts are held monthly. Photo by Kathryn Boughton

KENT—Hardly had the Kent Volunteer Fire Department’s firehouse been cleared of Quiz Night tables and apparatus that it began to hum with two other fundraisers sponsored by the KVFD. 

Anne McAndrew, front, and her KVFD Auxiliary crew were hard at work Sept. 22 serving up breakfast to a steady stream of customers to raise money for the fire department. The”Big Win” breakfasts are held monthly. Photo by Kathryn Boughton

After a summer-long break, Anne McAndrew and her intrepid crew of cooks and servers returned to the firehouse kitchen Sept. 22 to whip up wholesome breakfasts of pancakes, eggs breakfast meats, juice and coffee for a steady stream of patrons.

Scouts, from left to right, Nate Young, Eben Gifford, Trevor Deitz and Mason Collins, were among those who helped set up and break down the Art from the Heart sale Sept. 22 at the Kent firehouse. The sale benefited both the firefighters and the exhibiting artisans. Photo by Kathryn Boughton

The “Big Win” breakfasts are held monthly and have become welcome times for locals to gather and socialize over a meal.

This time, there was an added attraction as the fire department hosted the annual Art from the Heart sale in the garage bays where only hours before revelers had scratched their heads over mind-twisting clues during the Sept. 21 Quiz Night.

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Artisans and artists from near and far displayed creations ranging from cookies and jewelry, to artwork and sleigh bells.

Sated by a wholesome “Big Win” breakfast served up by the Kent Volunteer Fire Department’s Auxiliary, patrons drifted to the other side of the firehouse last Sunday for the Art from the Heart sale. Photo by Kathryn Boughton

The back-to-back uses of the firehouse meant the first responders had to move all their heavy trucks out of the bays and park them on the grass beside the bustling parking lot.

John Russell, KVFD president, said the expensive vehicles were not left out overnight and were all brought back into the firehouse late in the evening following Quiz Night, only to be driven out and parked again early the next morning.

They were probably back in the firehouse for all of eight hours overnight, he noted.

The KVFD trucks were barely ensconced in the firehouse after Saturday’s Quiz Night before they were pulled out again to make space for Art from the Heart. Photo by Andrea Schoeny

The firefighters placed the vehicles strategically, so the most important ones were readily accessible in case of a call.

Indeed, one ambulance was pressed into service during the morning.

Kathryn Boughton has been editor of the Kent Dispatch since its digital reincarnation in October 2023 as a nonprofit online publication. A native of Canaan, Conn., Kathryn has been a regional journalist...

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