Michelle “Mickey” Carroll began her volunteer career in 1984 with the Garden City Fire Company. Most of her friends were already involved with the fire company and encouraged her to join.
While volunteering, Carroll worked in the nursing field and she relocated to Florida for work in 1999, forcing her to put firefighting on the back burner. In 2019, she moved back north to reignite her passion for volunteering and reconnect with her friends. “I enjoy volunteering, which is why I moved back to return to Garden City,” said Carroll.
In addition to being a firefighter, Carroll serves as the fire company’s treasurer. Her favorite part about volunteering is giving back to those in need and being a part of the “mini community” that exists within the walls of the firehouse. The innate camaraderie amongst volunteers, both seasoned and new, allows them to seamlessly work together, which is extremely vital in emergency situations.
“Volunteering has shown me the true importance of teamwork. It requires a lot of teamwork and varying levels of knowledge and expertise to have a functional fire department,” says Carroll.
When she has free time between her work schedule and volunteer duties, Carroll enjoys spending time with her three Labrador Retrievers and her friends.
To other women interested in becoming volunteers like Carroll, no prior experience is needed to join. Training and gear are provided for free. To become a volunteer at Garden City Fire Company or to learn more, visit www.GardenCityFirefighter.org.