WALDORF, Md. — This holiday season, volunteers and visitors at the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) can enjoy a tree donated by Middleton’s Cedar Hill Farm. The Middleton family has donated a tree to WVFD for decades.
“I don’t remember a year without a tree,” said Bill Dofflemyer, WVFD department chief. Dofflemyer assumed the role of chief two months ago but has been with the department for 45 years.
On Dec. 2, six of the department’s volunteers arrived at Cedar Hill Farm to pick up the tree the Middleton family donated to the station.
“It’s very exciting to see the fire engines roll up without their lights and sirens going,” said Thomas “Mac” Middleton, former state senator for Charles County and owner of Cedar Hill Farm. “These young men and women risk their lives, but they volunteer to work day and night to protect us. It’s only reasonable to help them enjoy the time they’re spending at the station.”
In addition to their usual emergency services, WVFD has been busy with special events.
“The department also participates in citizen events like Scouts meetings, Santa runs and visits,” Dofflemyer said. “A retirement community recently asked us to help get some gifts for the residents. We were able to turn around and get more gifts than they had asked us to sponsor.”
Dofflemyer said his department is about more than emergency services and that these kinds of events are another way WVFD can give back to the community and develop partnerships with their neighbors.
The Middleton family’s farm has long been a part of the community that WVFD protects. Middleton said the oldest deed his family has for the farm dates back to 1661. The Maryland Department of Agriculture officially recognizes Cedar Hill Farm as a bicentennial farm, meaning it has been in continuous operation for 200 years or more. Middleton said he’s donated a tree to WVFD for more than 20 years.
Middleton said he expects to sell out of trees by Christmas, but Cedar Hill Farm has more to offer visitors.
“We’ve also got blankets, crosses, hearts—things that would be good to decorate a home or place on a gravestone. We’ve also got mantelpieces and centerpieces, buckets and baskets. We also have office gifts. We have an arrangement that fits in a mug, so your coworker can enjoy the fresh greenery, and then they can use the mug afterward.”
Middleton said he and his family take pride in serving their customers and that a number of the items they’re offering can be made to order.
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