Skornia retires from JCFD, shares day with folks he’s helped

“We’re in a business of helping people, and I just wanted to do that again.”

After 34 years of serving with the Jefferson City Fire Department, Capt. Charles Skornia chose to have his retirement dinner at the Jefferson City Salvation Army.

He invited his colleagues and city workers to come, but he also wanted to have those who normally partake of the Salvation Army’s daily community dinner to be a part of the celebration.

“My first year on the job, when Christmas came around they asked me to fix up some bikes so the Army could give them away to kids,” he said. “I kept on doing that for 28 years. There were times we’d have as many as 300-400 bikes, and we didn’t have a place to put them.”

Skornia’s last day on the job was April 10, his birthday, when he turned 67.

“When I first started, there almost wasn’t a day that went by that we weren’t out putting water on a fire,” he said. “Now, it’s something if we have to go out once a week. I think the work we did on code enforcement, public education and inspections has led to the improved conditions we see today.”

“The Salvation Army would be far less effective if it were not for the countless community volunteers that help us every day,” said Lt. Christopher White, the Jefferson City Salvation Army Corps officer. “Capt. Skornia’s retirement ceremony and volunteer legacy is a testament to the passion that he and the Fire Department have for our community.”

“We’re always out helping people and so this just seemed right,” Skornia said. “If there’s one thing I’d like to say, it’s that we just need to remember to pay it forward and help whenever we can.”