CT Town Helps VFD after COVID-19 Cancels Fundraisers

ORANGE, NY—The cancellation of two boot drives and the Firefighter’s Carnival due to COVID-19 cost the Orange Volunteer Fire Department about 50 percent of its $400,000 annual budget.

But the $50,000 payment on their new truck wasn’t canceled.

So, Board of Finance Vice Chairman Jim Leahy — who spent a career at Sikorsky Aircraft solving problems at the executive level — put that hat back on and came up with an idea. That was the seed of a GoFundMe campaign and other fundraising events.

Fellow board members loved the idea, and they launched — as individuals — the Fire Truck $50K Challenge.

The new truck cost $850,000.

He suggested the community fundraiser to the board members because the volunteer fire department goes on calls all hours of the day and night to save homes, buildings and lives, Leahy said.

“They now have a fire on their operating revenue,” Leahy said he told them.

He said it’s all in the spirit of OVFD’s slogan, “Neighbor Helping Neighbor,” and a “microcosm of what our society needs more of.”

There is a $50,000 payment on the truck due in October—and with generous donations, they are getting closer. But Leahy said there has been a “summer heat” slowdown. The truck was dedicated last year.

As of July 19, there was $33,672 in the GoFundMe account from 238 donations, Leahy’s latest report shows. That is 67 percent toward the goal.

“We’re very grateful for the support we’ve had, and we’re trying to get more,” Leahy said.

Fire Chief Vaughn Dumas said without the community help the department would have a significant financial shortfall.

“The determination of Jim Leahy and the members of the Board of Finance to help us recover from this loss of revenue has been a blessing for our organization,” Dumas said.

“There are no words that can describe the gratitude we have for the members of the Board of Finance, the residents and businesses of our community,” who are supporting the challenge and the annual raffle, which will be drawn Aug. 2 and went on despite the carnival cancellation, Dumas said.

In addition to canceling the carnival, the OVFD canceled both of its annual boot drive events, resulting in an additional loss of 20 percent of the budget, Dumas said.

As part of the effort, Leahy has spreadsheets, regular number updates, recognition to donors for various levels of donation, and big thermometer signs around town.

He and the team also have planned fundraisers, including one from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the Orange Ale House and Burger Bar, with music by The Blue Collar Band; and a “Closest to the Pin” contest Saturday and Sunday at the Golf Lounge 18.

The Orange Ale House event is $25 for a $30 Ale House gift certificate, with proceeds going to the

Fire Truck $50K Challenge. The Golf Lounge event will include competition in various categories.

The truck, a designated Quint-32, is equipped with a 75-foot aerial ladder, 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump and other tools, according to a press release from its dedication last August.

“The Spartan/Smeal truck is designed to perform a variety of tasks at emergencies,” the department said in a release.

The truck replaced a 1978 Mack CK that had a 50-foot ladder and a 1,000-gallon-per-minute pump. The new truck cost more than $850,000, and that original release said it would be paid for “through the Fireman’s Carnival and other fund-raising activities.”

At the dedication ceremony - called a “wetdown” in the firefighter arena — First Selectman Jim Zeoli said about 14,000 people live in town and about 100,000 cars pass through daily, and when there’s an emergency, they rely on the OVFD.

“That’s all on this group. When there’s an emergency, you’re there and we’re all really, really grateful,” Zeoli said.

At the dedication, Dumas offered special thanks to firefighters’ families and the community, saying without their support the department wouldn’t have the new truck.

“We work hard,” Dumas said at the time. “This is reward for that hard work.”

According to the OVFD website, the department operates with revenues from fundraisers and donations and the OVFD is one of a few remaining all-volunteer incorporated fire departments in Connecticut. The department received a $185,000 donation from the town this fiscal year, Dumas said.

Active members are on call to serve the community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, responding from stations on Orange Center Road and Boston Post Road.

In addition, the fire company offers public education services including lectures, demonstrations and training.

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