Calif. Firefighters Collect Wigs For Cancer Patients

March 28--Area fire departments are finding opportunities to give as they work gathering hats, wigs and scarves for Solano County cancer patients.

On Tuesday, representatives from NorthBay Medical Center were on hand at Vacaville's Station 72 to pick up a second round of items donated by community members on behalf of the area's cancer patients -- a drive that organizers have called a "huge success" so far.

More than two months after a five-alarm fire gutted a Fairfield professional building that housed offices for the American Cancer Society, the Vacaville Fire Department -- along with other county agencies who responded to battle the flames -- have joined with NorthBay Medical Center by designating themselves as drop-off points for donations

to help those in the fight against cancer.

According to Vacaville firefighter-paramedic Matt Moreno, now only a month into the effort, the Vacaville Fire Department has received more than its share of donations from the community.

In the last month, Lynne DiModica, women's services coordinator at NorthBay Medical Center, estimates the combined fire departments have gathered wigs, hats and scarves anywhere from the high hundreds to the thousands.

"Those who in the community have heard about it have really taken it on as their own," DiModica said. "Because somebody knows somebody affected with cancer."

Moreno agreed, adding the Vacaville Fire Department has seen a "great response from the community" -- especially in the

number of cancer survivors "coming to pay it forward" by either donating items or giving their invaluable support to those in the midst of the battle.

According to Moreno, nearly every department that responded to the fire has now transitioned into a drop-off point for community members to share.

"We see firsthand the loss people endure and this is our way of showing that we can be here for you after the fire also," Moreno said.

"It's not just Vacaville, it's Fairfield Fire Department, Rio Vista Fire Department, Suisun Fire Department, Vallejo," DiModica emphasized.

"To be honest, I didn't know how it was going to go, just because of the advertisement and how many people actually have wigs," Moreno said. "I thought maybe we'd get a bunch of old hats but no, people are bringing by brand-new hats, wig boxes, scarves by the hundreds, so it's awesome."

DiModica went on to say she has received a number of donations from people who have the wigs or scarves of loved ones who have passed on and have been left without an outlet -- until now.

"But that's so small compared to how many cancer patients we have in our community from end to end," she added.

" 'I just didn't know what to do with them and now I have a place to take them,' " DiModica recalled being told by a caller.

"It's a great pairing," DiModica said of NorthBay's teaming up with the Vacaville Fire Department. "We have the same passion; we want to reach the community and we want to reach women, and that's what NorthBay Center for Women's Health is about, is reaching the community and reaching women."

To make a donation, visit any of Vacaville or Fairfield fire department's stations, or the Suisun Fire Protection District station.

"It's a free service that the American Cancer Society provides to the patients of all Solano County, not just Fairfield or Vacaville, but from end to end," DiModica said. "This is for every woman in our community, regardless of who their health care provider is."

Still, Moreno said, the credit for the drive's success goes to area residents who have stepped up to fill the need.

"Without them, we're just a collection point with an empty box," Moreno added.

Follow Staff Writer Catherine Bowen at Twitter.com/cbowen4.