Volunteers Assemble Cake Boxes

On Wednesday night, approximately 40 people gathered at the Ellington firehouse to put together 6,000 boxes that will hold the cakes for the Fireman’s Fair.

The boxes will be hand delivered by members of the to every home, condominium, and apartment in town so that the townspeople can make cakes or pastry items for the department’s cake booth.

The fair will be held at  on Sept. 8, 9, and 10, and all of the boxes will be delivered before Labor Day.

Every year, the members of the department gather to put the boxes together. The members work very efficiently in an assembly line with each member having a specific job.

“It’s an expectation as a member of the department,” Chairperson Betsi Feldman said, adding that there are exceptions for those who work second shift. “If we know that you’re not a second shift worker, you better be here.”

Last year, more than 5,000 boxes went out and 500 cakes or pastry products were supplied to the department.

If you are interested in making a cake or pastry item, you can deliver it to the cake booth at the fair, or bring it to the firehouse on Main Street. If you are unable to deliver it, you are asked to call 860-870-3190 and leave a message. The department will then send someone to pick the cake up.

If you are interested in making more than one cake, you can call the same number or contact any Ellington firefighter and additional boxes will be delivered to you.

If a resident would prefer not to make a cake, or cannot make a cake, he or she can make a monetary donation using the envelope enclosed in the cake box.

There will also be a raffle where 11 prizes will be awarded. The top prize is a 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 pick-up truck, second prize is a $650 gift certificate redeemable at Superior Energy, and third prize is a $550 gift certificate redeemable at Homestead Fuel.