• BJ LEWIS - VICTORIA ADVOCATE
• Originally published July 11, 2008 at 5:38 p.m., updated July 11, 2008 at 5:38 p.m.

First English Lutheran Church’s smoke detector distribution project is complete.

The program is called “Shadrach Meshach, Abednego – Saved from the Fire.”

The church has given out 3,467 smoke detectors to homes south of U.S. Highway 59 and east of the Mayfair subdivision, south to the river and including old Victoria East of U.S. Highway 77.

“Initially we thought we would do 2,000-2,500,” Jennifer Hartman said. “But as we looked at maps and neighborhoods, it was hard to say we’re going to do this and not do that one, so we kept growing it.”

The project was started from the tragedy in 2006 when four children died in a house fire.

“Two of them were grandchildren of a family in our church,” Hartman said. “Because of that we realized in that area of town those homes didn’t have alarms.”

First English Lutheran Church partnered with Lentz Hardware and Zarsky Lumber Company to provide the detectors at cost. Interstate Battery provided replacement battery coupons with each detector, she said. This was in addition to money raised by First English Lutheran, including the annual Heritage Day Celebration that supports the outreach ministries of the church.

Money raised at Heritage Day, which includes a barbecue and auction, among other events, is divided into the community ministry to fund projects like the smoke alarm distribution, Hartman said.

Church pastor Bill Hassel said he was proud of the effort.

“It was really a community exercise. Many people from many areas and walk of life helped,” he said. “The whole goal is if we make a difference saving one life it’s worth all the effort.”

Bj Lewis is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6535 or bjlewis@vicad.com or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.

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