We are excited to announce that we are one of 150 volunteer fire departments across the nation to receive a $10,000 grant through the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program. In collaboration with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), State Farm has awarded $1.5 million in grants to help local fire departments obtain needed equipment to increase their responders’ safety, effectiveness and ability to serve their community. With this grant, Dept 5 will purchase 1 complete set of Structural Firefighting turnout gear from Lion for Firefighter Wayne Boka, which includes bunker pants and jacket, thermal hood, structural firefighting boots, gloves, and ladder belt. We are also purchasing 2 rolling gear racks from Ready Rack that will give 7 new members/junior members a locker for their gear and provide room to grow. We are also purchasing 6 water rescue PFDs (personal flotation device) for use in flooding situations.
“When we were made aware of this grant by Ken Leone and Ronda L’amoureux, our local State Farm agent, we had some high-priority equipment purchases that were a perfect fit for this grant. ” said Chief William Goltz. “We recently ran out of locker space with the influx of new members and junior members. We have 6 or 7 members with their gear sitting in piles on the floor. This grant is buying them a locker which will acknowledge their importance to our organization while properly securing their gear. Wayne has been a member now for coming up on a year and is using 16 year old gear. This will get him into compliant gear and reward him for his dedication to response and training. The PFDs are a needed upgrade and addition to our current gear. We just really appreciate State Farm and this gift and can’t thank them enough. Dept 5 is about continuous improvement and progression, and gifts like this are what make it all possible.”
This is the second year of the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program. Volunteer fire departments are essential to public safety, especially in rural and small-town communities. However, many operate with limited budgets and struggle to secure the funding for critical equipment. These grants are a lifeline for local departments to obtain equipment that will increase safety, efficiency and effectiveness.
In addition to the grants, State Farm also provided the first 2,000 applicants with a one-year membership to the NVFC – the leading association representing the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services – so they have access to additional tools, resources, and training to support their continued success.
Learn more about the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program at http://www.nvfc.org/statefarm.
About State Farm
For over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its more than 19,000 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 91 million policies and accounts – including auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 39 on the 2024 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.
About the National Volunteer Fire Council
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at https://www.nvfc.org.