RENFROE, Ala.-- Like any volunteer Fire Department, the Renfroe area volunteers contribute time and services to their community in order to make sure its residents are safe and secure.
On Monday, the tables turned and a Renfroe family was looking out for the Fire Department.
Hubbard Properties Inc. handed volunteers a $1 million dollar check to put toward building a new and improved fire station, along with a donated piece of property to house it.
"It's just unbelievable," said Fire Department volunteer Nancy McCloud.
The "unbelievable" gesture came out of total surprise, said fellow volunteer Terry Milam. He approached Jim Hubbard, one member of the family born and raised in the Renfroe area, about just possibly helping the Fire Department raise enough money to construct a new station. Milam said he never expected a donation for the total project, much less $1 million.
"We're very happy to do it and we appreciate all they do for this community," Hubbard said. "This is to say thank you to those who donate their time seven days a week to the community. ... You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy."
The excitement has already begun at the Renfroe Fire House. McCloud and Milam have been scouting designs across the state to get ideas and advice on what to do and not do for their project.
With actual blueprints still up in the air, the group does have a few concrete ideas. The new station will go up adjacent to the Hubbard Family cemetery, also located off Renfroe Road, and both parties would like the structure to blend with the stone of the cemetery.
McCloud said a community storm shelter is also in the plans, as well as a room that residents can rent out for personal use.
"We'd like to have more of the community involved," she said.
Contractors are also being discussed, and Fire Chief Bruce Hubbard, no relation, said they would like to have a groundbreaking ceremony in a month, if not sooner.
This $1 million surprise is expected to handle all the building needs, and any funds left over will go towards new equipment, but the volunteers said it doesn't eliminate their operating expenses. They still hope to rely on donations from citizens, as well as physical help.
With 23 volunteers, Chief Hubbard said, they need to have at least 50 to satisfactorily cover the community.
"There's something for everyone to do here," McCloud said. "You don't have to run into fires or carry a body out on your shoulder or anything. Everybody has a gift and we try to use all those gifts."
Retired community members and young residents are encouraged to attend the weekly meetings Mondays at 7 p.m. and no extensive training is required.
Republished with permission of The Daily Home.
