Donations to Fire Stations Continue Regularly
Online Community Responds with Messages of Support
A story about a bakery owner who began regularly donating bread to a fire station after serving coffee to firefighters has touched many people. On August 21, Baek Kyung (pen name), an active firefighter and paramedic, shared his experience on X. Baek wrote, "I missed my mealtime and stopped by a newly opened bakery. The bakery was located in a secluded alley," adding, "I thought I could park the ambulance for a moment without drawing too much attention." The young-looking owner warmly welcomed the paramedics, saying, "You work so hard. I also dreamed of becoming a firefighter when I was young, but I couldn't achieve it due to health issues."
The appearance of the bread received by author Baek Kyung from the bakery owner. Author Baek Kyung X
Baek continued, "Even though I didn't order it, he insisted on handing me an iced Americano. I had only come in to get some bread because I was hungry, but I felt I was being treated too generously," adding, "I also started to notice the glances from other customers sitting at the tables." He recalled, "I quickly picked out a few recommended breads and left the store, deliberately avoiding the owner's disappointed gaze as he said, 'Are you leaving already? Why not rest a bit before you go?'"
Since then, bread has been regularly delivered to the fire station where Baek works. Baek said, "It's a gesture that can't be measured in money, but if I had to calculate, each time he would carefully pack and send at least 100,000 won worth of bread," adding, "At the time, I was genuinely worried that rumors would spread about the bakery going out of business because of all the bread he was giving away to the fire station." He went on to say, "As of 2025, the bakery has expanded to four locations. It was thanks to the bread being exceptionally delicious," and added, "The owner-no, the president-still sends his sincerity fresh from the oven to the fire station these days." After this story was shared, online users responded with comments like, "Where is this place? I want to support it," "Stories like this warm my heart," and "Every firefighter deserves such appreciation."
Donations to Nearby Fire Stations Continue with Consumer Coupons
Besides this story, the warm-heartedness sparked by the government’s livelihood recovery consumption support funds continues to move the community, as it is passed from children and firefighters to neighbors. According to Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, on August 24, a resident of Ilsandong-gu used the consumption support funds given to their child to purchase a coffee gift certificate and discreetly left it along with a handwritten letter at the front door of the Pungdong 119 Safety Center at Ilsan Fire Station.
On the 16th, 30 iced coffees were delivered by an anonymous donor to Jecheon Fire Station. Jecheon Fire Station
The letter contained the child's heartfelt message: "Thank you for the hard work you do in the summer heat. Please recharge with a cool drink and cake." In addition, a high school student in Sejong City used a livelihood recovery coupon to buy coffee and deliver it to local firefighters, and similar heartwarming stories have been reported in other regions as well. Across the country, citizens continue to show their warm support for firefighters who are working tirelessly to ensure public safety during the heat wave.
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