Friendship Fire Receives State Farm Good Neighbor Grant

The funding will help the department purchase a gear washer.

(Friendship, Ind.) - Just in time for Fire Prevention Week, October 6-12, Friendship Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. is excited to announce that it is one of 100 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 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, the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department will be able to purchase a gear washer to clean turnout gear after fighting structural and vehicle fires. With today’s modern materials, there are dangerous by products of combustion that cover our protective gear. These by products contain a number of known carcinogens. Cancer is now one of the leading causes of death in the fire service, so it is critical that every action possible is taken to protect our volunteers.

Friendship Volunteer Fire Department serves a large part of Brown Township in Ripley County and all of Ceaser Creek Township in Dearborn County. We respond to a wide variety of emergencies including medical, motor vehicle accidents, brush / grass, vehicle and structural fires just to name a few. Friendship Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. is also called to help neighboring departments in Dearborn County, Switzerland County, Jefferson County, Ohio County and of course Ripley County.

“We are proud to serve our communities and be there to help our neighbors on what might be the worse day of their life. This project will help protect our volunteers and reduce what might well be a preventable risk,” said Chief Keith Sieverding. “We would like to sincerely thank the National Volunteer Fire Council and State Farm® for this grant and supporting our efforts in Friendship and the surrounding area.”

This is the inaugural year of the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program. Volunteer fire departments play a critical role in protecting communities across the country, especially small towns and rural areas. However, they often operate on tight budgets and struggle to find the funding for needed equipment. In collaboration with the NVFC, State Farm aimed to award 50 grants to local fire departments. However, the overwhelming response prompted State Farm to double its commitment to 100 grants, benefiting even more local departments and communities.

State Farm also provided all applicants with a 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 help them thrive.

Learn more about the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program at www.nvfc.org/statefarm.