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Thousands of dollars pour in after theft of Boston Fire donation boot

BOSTON — The boot at Boston Fire Department’s Engine 8, Ladder 1 is the largest donation campaign for the department and the only one that runs year round, so when the well-recognized fixture of the community was stolen north end residents turned out in force.

Thousands of dollars have poured in from private citizens and businesses in the area turning a deficit of hundreds on its head. Fire officials weren’t sure exactly how much was inside the boot at the time it was taken, but they say it was a large pot, since the boot had been out over the busy holiday weekend.

>>PREVIOUS: Donation boot stolen from outside North End fire station

The boot turned up on battery wharf, cut in half and vandalized but the sour feeling firefighters say that left is outshined by stories of community members coming to the rescue like one teenager who showed up with a giant bag of quarters.

"It’s nice, it’s good to see great American values and kids being brought up right. It’s nice working in this fire house because it's a neighborhood fire house, everybody likes to pull together,” Fire Lt. Robert Kelly said.

The money is allocated for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. From now, on the boot will not sit outside unprotected during overnight hours.

If you're interested helping to fill the new boot with donations, stop by the firehouse at 392 Hanover St. 

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