Fredonia Volunteer Fire Department receives $10,000 grant from State Farm

Fredonia Volunteer Fire Department is excited to announce that it is 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.

Photo via Fredonia Fire Department

With this grant, Fredo­nia Fire Department will be able to purchase much needed turnout gear for each of the members. Some of the new members do not have gear and others have old, outdated gear. With the new gear the department members will be much safer and be able to do their job without fear of injury.

The Fredonia Fire De­partment is an all-volun­teer department that is made up of about 13 mem­bers of the community. Not only does the fire depart­ment serve Fredonia, but it has an area of over 600 square miles that it serves. They are there to help when needed and is on call to help our neighbors to the North. Captain Brandon Tait said, “that this has given the de­partment a chance to move in a forward direction with this genuine gift.”

Chief Clayton Johnson was excited to report this to the department and to the town council. He said that the funds will be put to good use. He wanted to thank State Farm and the National Volunteer Fire Council. This will help better protect both our responders and our com­munity.”]

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.