BENTON HARBOR – This weekend, there has been a huge outpouring of support for a Benton Harbor public safety officer who was injured earlier this month fighting a house fire.
The fundraiser was a pancake breakfast, and it raised more than $22,000.
A banner outside touted the good cause being supported inside the North Berrien fire station.
As the pancakes on the griddle were flipped, it was less about getting a good meal and more about supporting Lt. Doug Bell, A Benton Harbor public safety officer who was injured March 14 while fighting a fire.
Bell is still in the hospital.
“They took him in for skin grafting (Saturday morning),” said Bell’s brother, Rory. “He was optimistic to get it done, so he could come home.”
Although Bell works for Benton Harbor, he and his family have long had ties to the North Berrien Fire Department. And in less than a week, North Berrien pulled off this fundraiser, bringing in the more than $22,000.
A firefighter from Alaska was at Saturday’s benefit breakfast.
According to family members of the injured firefighter, Doug Bell will continue to need more skin grafts in the years to come. So the money raised Saturday will help offset the costs associated with continued years of ongoing treatment.
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