From staff reports

McCall Volunteer Fire Department and Dixonville VFD are among 50 grant recipients of Georgia-Pacific’s Bucket Brigade program this year. The departments were awarded $2,500 and $5,000, respectively, to help fund basic equipment needs and turnout gear.
This year, GP awarded $235,000 in grants to fire departments for equipment critical to firefighter’s safety.
“Every year, we receive applications from hundreds of fire departments, often requesting very basic items to do their jobs,” Jim Hannan, chief executive officer and president of GP, said. “It’s critical that we help meet the needs of first responders who are in harm’s way and make our communities safer every day.”
The Bucket Brigade grants, raging from $1,000 to $10,000, are based on need and are funded by the GP Foundation and local GP facilities. Funds are typically used to purchase new protective clothing and replace items such as damaged safety gear and aging equipment.
Additionally, GP gives all grant applicants free memberships to The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), which provides access to tools, resources, programs and advocacy for first-responders across the nation.
“The majority of fire departments in the U.S. are volunteer and they struggle to maintain basic preparedness level,” Heather Schafer, NVFC’s chief executive officer, said. “GP Bucket Brigade grants enable departments to obtain equipment so that they can protect lives and property in their local communities. We applaud GP’s willingness to give back to those who serve.”
The fire departments receiving grants this year span 19 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.