2023 Recipient $10,000: Community Grant

Picture this. You love your community and feel called to serve it by volunteering. That’s probably not a stretch for you. But now imagine that your work is potentially fatal. And the equipment you have to keep you safe is more than 20 years old and in need of replacement.

The Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department was facing this situation.

The Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is literally the lifeline for firefighters. When they enter a burning building, these devices provide breathable air when oxygen is in short supply due to smoke, dangerous gases, and other contaminants.

The Posey Township VFD’s SCBAs were manufactured in 2002 and in desperate need of replacement!

The department decided to apply for a federal grant to cover the substantial cost. Knowing the process was extremely competitive, they hired a grant writer. It paid off.

“Thankfully our department received the Assistance to Firefighters Grant from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for $107,666.66. But this grant and the 5% match that was required on our part would only pay for 14 SCBAs. With 23 firefighters currently on the Posey Township VFD roster, 14 SCBAs simply were not enough,” explained Fire Chief, Zachary Tucker.

“While the grant funding from the AFG program was a blessing, it also left our department in a predicament. It meant that we would not be able to outfit our fire trucks with enough airpacks. This issue would obviously affect the level of service that our department would be able to provide for our community,” he continued.

With a $10,000 grant from RCCF and another $10,000 from the Posey Township Trustee, the department was able to purchase four additional SCBAs.

“If it had not been for the grant funding from the AFG program and the RCCF along with money from the trustee, our department would not have been able to replace the old SCBAs for several years. At a cost of nearly $159,000, the project would not have been feasible,” said Chief Tucker.

This grant is a perfect example of how your donations to our unrestricted Community Grants Funds help meet our community’s most urgent needs and touch the lives of everyone in Rush County. Your generosity makes a powerful impact, not just today but for generations to come. It could even save lives.

There’s an opportunity for you to make an even bigger difference. Currently, your gifts to Community Grants Funds are matched $2 for every $1 you give. There’s never been a better time to support areas of local life, including public safety. Give online or mail or drop off a check to RCCF, 117 N. Main Street, Rushville, IN 46173. Thank you!