February 21, 2011 is a day forever seared in the hearts and minds of Perry and Marcia Kirkland. Perry, a volunteer firefighter with the Loco Community Fire Department in Lincoln County, GA, responded that morning to a grass fire. But the fire moved quickly and suddenly Perry was the victim of a burn injury covering 27% of his body, both 2nd and 3rd degree. He spent several weeks in the Joseph M. Still Burn Center and endured three skin grafts.

Though Perry's wife, Marcia, and daughter, Kimber, did not require assistance for lodging in the Chavis House, they frequently enjoyed the meals provided through the SFBF Meals Program. For Marcia, the meal times were opportunities to bond with families of other burn survivors.

Perry is doing much better and has returned to work at Boyd Management. He and Marcia paid a visit to the SFBF recently with a generous gift in hand. The youth and children at their church, Loco Baptist, held a "Crème Pie in the Face" fundraiser and netted $395 for the SFBF. Perry & Marcia added another $1,000 in honor of the paid and volunteer firefighters of the City of Lincolnton and Lincoln County fire departments.

"We were fortunate that we lived close by," said Marcia. "But the Burn Foundation is here to help those who don't have help, who financially have nowhere to go. Whatever we can do to help and give back, that's what we want to do."