FireLink Midwest City Foundation helping local residents in need

Stair-climb fundraiser set for Nov. 16

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

Emergency personnel respond to tens of thousands of calls every year.

Several of those calls are to the same addresses for the same issues.

A new nonprofit organization aims to get to the root of the problems and reduce the number of 911 calls.

FireLink Midwest City Foundation, a 501 c3, was created by the Midwest City Fire Department personnel and others in the community. Their mission is to fund community risk reduction and safety education programs, to improve the safety and quality of life for residents and first responders.

“We’re taking a proactive approach to getting resources for residents,” said Haley Dayer, Midwest City fire prevention officer who also serves as president of FireLink.
Dayer said their work will include things such as helping elderly residents prevent falling at home, providing transportation for medical appointments or connecting people with mental health treatment.

“A lot of times people are falling because of the way their rooms are set up or they can’t get to physical therapy because they don’t have a ride or anyone they can call,” Dayer said. “About 20 percent of our calls are for falls.”

FireLink will receive referrals based on repeat calls for service. They will receive notice for anyone who’s called 911 three times in the past month. A member of the group will contact the individual about visiting their home to assess any needs that could be met by local service providers.

Residents would need to provide permission for any home visits.

FireLink is partnering with local service providers to assist residents.

Community Health Centers of Oklahoma is one of the largest partners. It is a federally qualified health center that provides primary health care and other health-related services.

The organization recently opened a clinic at the former Highland Park Elementary School, 5301 S. Dimple Dr. in Oklahoma City.

They will also take referrals for anyone with immediate needs.

Residents would need to provide permission before anyone could visit their home.

The University of Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma State University are also partnering in the program.

Midwest City Fire Marshal Duane Helmberger learned about the idea during a conference a couple of years ago. He and others with the fire department have been working to get it launched since early this year.

“Since we really got going at the end of March, I think we’ve come a long way,” Dayer said. “Getting a nonprofit set up included talking to our attorney and getting a lot of legal things in place.”

The foundation was launched last month.

The board of directors includes representatives from other non-profit social services organizations, police, fire, schools among others.

In the past, the fire department referred any needs for services to Adult Protective Services, which is often overloaded with calls from other municipalities.

FireLink members are working to raise money through grants, donations and fundraisers.

The group is hosting a Step Up Midwest City Stair Climb fundraiser Nov. 16 at Rose Field in Midwest City. Participants will compete in climbing stadium stairs. Gates open at 9 a.m. and the climb begins at 10 a.m.

The cost is $100 for a team of four and $25 for individuals. Registration is available at http://rostatecollege.formstack.com.

Sponsorships are also available.

For more information about FireLink Midwest City Foundation or the stair climb event, contact [email protected] or call (405) 739-1350.