Police officers and firefighters are natural givers, and garnering their support can be incredibly effective.

By Christine Weiser

Leonard, who has been a volunteer firefighter for 18 years, points out that garnering the support of a local firehouse can be especially powerful.

“Unlike police officers, who can sometimes [be perceived as taking] away your rights, firefighters have a tremendous halo affect,” he says. “People are rarely unhappy with firefighters, and having them on board for a cause can be very powerful. The community thinks that if the cause is good enough for firemen, it must be a good cause.”