Milford Fire Department’s Matt Mast looks for a teammate during the charity basketball game Wednesday night at Milford School against the Lake City Media Hoopsters. The fire department raised $1,000 that will go to Toys For Tots. (Photos by Mike Deak)

MILFORD – On a snowy night, it was the hot hands of the fire department that warmed the hearts in a community-wide fundraising effort.

The Milford Fire Department hosted the Lake City Media Hoopsters in a charity basketball game Wednesday night at Milford School. The aim of the basketball affair, that featured a little basketball among a lot of comedy, had the fire department exceed and double its goal by raising $1,000 which will be potted until around Thanksgiving then put towards Toys For Tots. Donations were taken at the door prior to the game, and per firefighter and event organizer Corey Veach, will be taken at any time this year.

Milford’s Travis Beer goes in for two in between Lake City’s Phil Kuhn and Brandon Zartman.

“All of the money we raise tonight will stay in Kosciusko County for kids that are in need of toys or may be underprivileged,” Veach said. “If people want to donate to Toys For Tots, they are more than welcome to come to the Milford Fire Station and donate a toy or money. We have meetings on the first and third Thursday of every month where they can find us, or stop by any time really and someone can take care of it.”

The night included the basketball game, which MFD defeated LCMH 45-40 as Milford’s Hannah Haines hit shot after shot in the fourth quarter that helped the firefighter squad pull away late. During halftime, the very well-attended gymnasium was treated to an exhibition from Lions Karate based in North Webster as well as a shootout for a hundred smackers.

While basketball dominated the event, Veach noted he was more than excited to see so many people come out on a crummy weather night to support the cause.

“I got in touch with Chris Cage (from Lake City Media) and got the information I needed from him and took it to the fire department, and everybody was in support of it,” Veach said. “We don’t know what’s in store for the rest of the year. I’d like to do this yearly, Toys For Tots is a good thing. It’s possible we get more things together, we just are hoping to get this off the ground and becoming an annual thing. This gets the community out, it’s cheap entertainment for everybody. I’m definitely impressed by how many people came out and helped with this.”