Does a fire department need to stage a fund raiser?

[debodun]

Our local fire department is having their annual door-to-door fundraiser. You give them a donation and you get a wall calendar. I just wondered why they do this every year when it's a service paid for through taxes.

 

[hollydolly]

What's the Deal with Rural Fire Department Fundraisers?

 

[jujube]

Deb, well, I can just hope, if your house catches on fire, you don't need them to use the new equipment they were promised by the local government (to be paid for through taxation) but never got ( because the tax money was spent elsewhere).

You know, the equipment that they're raising money for......

 

[C50]

In my community the fire department is volunteer, though they do get paid when they answer a call. They stage a couple fundraisers every year to help fund the cost of better equipment, training, truck repairs, maintenence, etc.

If they have a few hundred dollars extra and want to have a cookout and beer for the members I'm all for it, frankly they deserve it.

 

[Devi]

My mom used to say it was for "beer money".

Maybe your mom wasn't right. Who would go to all that trouble to get extra money for beer?

 

[oldaunt]

How else can they keep up with equipment needs? They are NOT well funded, especially volunteer ones.

 

[Myrtle]

Just say no if you don't want to contribute. We all make these decisions as to what we want to support all the time.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

We have volunteer fire departments where I live. There are no state/county/ city fire departments. They do get some funding by the state, but it ain't big bucks. It costs big bucks to remain certified, maintain a station and maintain/operate expensive equipment, which have to be constantly updated. Plus, most of these volunteers pay for their own training. And, if your home is on fire, do you want trained fire fighters with fire trucks, or a neighbor with a garden hose?

 

[tinytn]

A lot of Firemen in New York were very brave to help in New York when those planes crashed into those buildings,!! God bless them for their help!!
and yes, just say no these Brave Men,, if you do not want to contribute,, but you better hope your home never catches fire!

 

[SeaBreeze]

Our local fire department is having their annual door-to-door fundraiser. You give them a donation and you get a wall calendar. I just wondered why they do this every year when it's a service paid for through taxes. My mom used to say it was for "beer money".

Too bad you and your mother have such disrespect for these brave first responding firefighters. They risk their health and their lives all the time performing their necessary duties of putting out deadly wildfires in our forests and in our cities and rural areas.

I have great respect for our Firefighters, when I see them fundraising outside of our local supermarkets, I always give, and appreciate all they do.

 

[Robb.hisself]

For me it would depend on whether they are taxpayer paid or volunteers. If volunteers my contribution would be a lot more than spare change.

 

[Myrtle]

For me it would depend on whether they are taxpayer paid or volunteers. If volunteers my contribution would be a lot more than spare change.

I understand your point here but for me it doesn't matter. Firefighters, police, nurses, medics, etc. all have to buy items of clothing or some things that are involved with their jobs that are not provided by tax funds. If I value what they do I am willing to give to a fundraiser for them even if they are tax payer supported.

And if not I'm still willing to give just to say thank you!

 

[Robb.hisself]

I understand your point here but for me it doesn't matter. Firefighters, police, nurses, medics, etc. all have to buy items of clothing or some things that are involved with their jobs that are not provided by tax funds. If I value what they do I am willing to give to a fundraiser for them even if they are tax payer supported.

And if not I'm still willing to give just to say thank you!

Point well taken. Across the board all deserve our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. But, I think that is best expressed by not just a simple and impersonal financial contribution. Rather by knocking on the firehouse door and telling the person who answers 'thank you for all you do'. That expresses best what you are trying to say by your donation at your front door. Rather than waiting for them to come to you; go to them.

 

[ronaldj]

if they are like our fire dept. the taxes do not pay for everything. ours is buying a new truck, $500,000 used. they take in less than 60,000 a year.
our firefighters are volunteer.

 

[Myrtle]

Point well taken. Across the board all deserve our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. But, I think that is best expressed by not just a simple and impersonal financial contribution. Rather by knocking on the firehouse door and telling the person who answers 'thank you for all you do'. That expresses best what you are trying to say by your donation at your front door. Rather than waiting for them to come to you; go to them.

YES!! You are so right!

 

[MarciKS]

Equipment and maybe repairs for the trucks and maybe things they need in the firehouse for the ones that are there on call. They need stuff for the living quarters. Food and etc.

 

[Lilac]

Many small departments, fire as well as law enforcement, rely on larger departments to give them used equipment when it's decommissioned. This can be anywhere from used vehicles to uniforms.

My Sheriff's Office donated many times to a smaller Sheriff's Office who didn't have enough money to make ends meet. What they didn't use from us, they passed along to neighboring counties in the same situation.

In this rural county, it's up the full- & part-time deputies to provide their own uniforms, gun belts & protective equipment. If it came between putting food on the table or buy a uniform, it was food on the table.

It hasn't gotten any better for them, only worse.