August 22, 2023 4 Comments
These have been difficult weeks in the Fire Dept. Coffee family.
We’ve joined countless others in mourning the loss of Damien Pereira, a firefighter and a dear friend.
In fact, Damien’s impact on Fire Dept. Coffee cannot be measured. His story helped shape our mission.
Damien was a CAL FIRE firefighter responding to a call on a remote California mountain in 2015 when a 48-foot oak tree snapped off and fell on him. His fellow firefighters acted quickly to save his life, but he survived with severe injuries, including spinal cord trauma.
He faced a long road to attempt to walk again, let alone return to some semblance of a normal life. His recovery never ended. We lost Damien on July 23, after more than eight years of battling with the lasting effects of that day on the mountain.
“Damien was the inspiration for the Fire Department Coffee Charitable Foundation and why our focus on giving back is sick and injured firefighters,” FDC Founder Luke Schneider said. “He was my friend my brother and his memory will live on through our foundation.”
In the fire service, we have such a close bond. We’re brothers and sisters. We’re family. And we look out for each other, always. Yet when the ability to do the job you love is taken from you, it’s life-changing in many ways.
Damien appreciated the support of his fellow firefighters and, of course, the love of his family. And still we’re left to say goodbye too soon.
We will continue to remember and honor Damien through our Foundation and our support for sick or injured first responders. We’re heartbroken, but we will keep going for Damien.
September 04, 2023
RIP, Sir.
August 30, 2023
May you all find a way from grief to hope by honoring Damien’s legacy of charity. May the joy of the brotherhood of firefighters carry you through.
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Fire Department Coffee replied:
Thank you so much for your kind words
August 25, 2023
Gone but never forgotten. My prayers to his family as well as his Fire family
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Fire Department Coffee replied:
Thank you ❤
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Anna-Maria Pereira Whitfield
September 23, 2023
What a beautiful tribute to “Dame”. I am his Aunt/Godmother. I was in the delivery room when he was born, he was/is my “baby boy”. He spoke so very highly of y’all with so much enthusiasm and energy. Thank you for sharing his story…I can just see him smiling with that little mischievous grin he had. God be with each and every firefighter. 🙏🏻
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Fire Department Coffee replied:
Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your connection to Damien. It is truly our pleasure to share his story!