WThe Wellman Fire Department’s first-ever grilled tenderloin drive-through dinner was a big success.

Secretary/Treasurer Tracy Owens says they served almost 1,300 people and raised almost $32,000 from free will donations during the April 17th event. Prior to the dinner, Owens said they didn’t know what to expect for turnout, but they were hoping for close to the $10,000 they typically raise during their annual pancake breakfast that was cancelled in October 2020 due to COVID-19.

Proceeds from the dinner will go towards the purchase of a new pumper truck, which Owens says would replace their 30-year-old unit, “It’s a unit that I’d love to say we’ll never use, but when it comes right down to it, if we have a structure fire obviously we have the luxury of mutual aid with Kalona, Washington, Keota, South English, North English if you are in a major structure fire, but ours is getting to the point it’s going to work when you get there, but it’s just getting behind the times. It’s a major thing we have to have, but you hope you never need it.”

Owens says pricing for a new pumper truck starts at $350,000, but even with some money set aside over the years and fundraising, the department will likely have to look at financing options to complete the purchase and adding the new unit could still be a year away. He adds the success of the drive-through dinner is just one more example of the support the Wellman community has for it’s department.