PLAINSBORO: Firefighters serve up ice cream for the fallen

By Allison Musante, Staff Writer
   PLAINSBORO — The muggy weather and promise of 31-cent ice cream drew more than a hundred people last Wednesday night to Baskin Robbins in the Plainsboro Village for a fundraiser benefiting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
   For the fifth consecutive year, the Plainsboro Fire Company participated in the event with Baskin Robbins, which creates fundraising partnerships among its stores nationwide and their local fire companies. This year, Baskin Robbins donated $100,000 to the Foundation, a nonprofit providing programs to honor line-of-duty deaths and supporting their survivors.
   Firefighters collected an additional $230 from customers, who were tossing change from their purchases into firefighters’ rubber boots. The Plainsboro Fire Company decided to round off the amount to $300 with its own contributions. That money will also go towards the Foundation.
   Firefighters from Plainsboro, Princeton and Kingston were speedily scooping to keep up with the line, which was out the door nearly the entire night from 5 to 10 p.m.
   ”This is also a great way to remind people that we’re here for them in the neighborhood,” said Plainsboro Chief Doug Vorp. In the Village parking lot, firefighters were giving tours of fire trucks, demonstrating equipment and answering fire safety answers, while children donned firefighters’ helmets over chocolate-covered faces.
   ”This is the warmest it’s ever been for this fundraiser,” said Plainsboro firefighter Tom Healy. “Usually it’s really cold. We’re so glad the rain held out.”
   During the benefit, Baskin Robbins dropped the price per scoop to 31 cents. One of the Baskin Robbins cashiers said many customers took advantage of the deal and many walked away with as many as seven scoops in a single dish or 14 scoops shared by a family of four.
   Plainsboro resident Sushma Hemanth brought her entire family after hearing about the event.
   ”We all got a few scoops,” she said, holding a bowl of vanilla. “We’re happy to hear about the money going towards this charity.”