Citing a mother-hero for Mother’s Day is a common honor; however, for Nicole Drake, the label fits in more ways than one. She’s the centerpiece of three generations at the Worcester Volunteer Fire Company.
Nicole started volunteering at the company’s auxiliary in 2012 with her own mother. Together, they organized fundraisers like flower sales, flea markets, and hoagie sales. Proceeds benefited the company’s service in the immediate Lansdale, Skippack, Blue Bell area.
Having inherited that altruistic gene, Nicole’s four daughters — Natalie, Ashley, Emily, and Hayley — are following suit but doubling down on the commitment.
Natalie and Ashley presently serve as cadets, while Emily and Hayley are training to fight interior fires.
“We’ve always felt super close to the fire company because of our mom,” said Emily. “As soon as my sisters and I became old enough to volunteer, we jumped on the opportunity to join.”
She concluded, “I love volunteering with my family because we all have different skill sets to piggyback off each other, whether we’re running a call, participating in a drill, or working at a community event.”
The entire Drake family — Nicole’s husband volunteers, too — is evidence that ordinary Montgomery County residents can, with training and practice, confidently and safely contribute to organizations like the Worcester Volunteer Fire Company.
Information on how to do so is online at the Montco Firefighters site.
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