WINSIDE, Neb. – A decades-old tradition supporting first responders continued in northeast Nebraska on Sunday.

Winside Volunteer Fire and Rescue held its annual community breakfast -- complete with pancakes, French toast, sausage and an omelet bar – to raise funds for equipment upgrades for the local fire and rescue unit.

Winside Fire Chief Don Skokan, who has been a volunteer firefighter in Winside for over 30 years, said the annual fundraiser dates back to before his time with Winside Fire and Rescue.

Skokan said the funds raised Sunday would help Winside Fire and Rescue complete its purchase of a new truck. He said the truck would be able to carry 500 gallons of water, which would be used mostly for car crashes as firefighters aim to prevent vehicles from igniting.

According to Skokan, the bulk of the money needed for the truck was received through ARPA funds from Wayne County, though the department needs approximately $80,000 for the remainder of the purchase. He said the fundraiser would help the department get over the hump financially.

Skokan said the fundraiser would also help the department obtain a new and upgraded heat sensor, which helps firefighters safely and quickly spot specific locations of fires. He said the sensor also helps rescue crews locate accident victims who may have wandered off.

The Winside fire chief and his team of volunteers were on site during the breakfast to show the community how the new equipment would work.

Skokan said while the funds are important, it’s not the only benefit of the event.

“It brings all the community together,” Skokan said. “I think people just like coming down and sitting around and visiting.”

The fundraiser began at 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning and ran through 1:00 p.m., which a consistent stream of diners cycling through the line throughout the event.

"They just keep coming in," Skokan said at 11:00 a.m.

Skokan and his team were in the Winside Auditorium well before the event, however, getting things ready for the public.

“We always get to try to samples before people come in, just to be sure everything works and if it’s good or not,” Skokan chuckled.