Rainbow Hose Co. #1 received a First Federal Charitable Foundation grant it plans to use to make necessary repairs to its apparatus, specifically its Pierce Aerialcat 95-foot quint tower firetruck, and purchase fuel and emergency supplies.
The grant will help Rainbow Hose Co. complete repairs and purchase tires so the firetruck can be placed in service and help support the fire company’s emergency response capabilities. The 135-year-old volunteer fire company serves residents throughout Schuylkill, Carbon and Berks counties with fire protection, firefighting, accident support, medical assistance, dive team assistance and other emergency assistance, including responding to reports of downed trees in roadways and flooding calls.
While the volunteer firefighters provide some financial assistance to the company themselves, Rainbow Hose Co. primarily gets its funding from a variety of fundraising and social activities and grants. Due to COVID-19, the company has not been able to conduct any fundraising activities since March, which has resulted in a $40,000 loss of income.
In addition to its emergency assistance, Rainbow Hose Co. supports families in need throughout the year. The company members provide a free holiday dinner at their personal expense to residents in its service area and give any monetary donations received at the event to a family in need. The fire company also helps other nonprofit organizations with their fundraising events by providing traffic control/safety and cleanup assistance.
Assistant Fire Chief Stephen Michael and Lori Michael said having an organization like First Federal Charitable Foundation has been especially crucial because of COVID-19.
“Organizations such as First Federal Charitable Foundation are a vital part of supporting other nonprofits that serve the community. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, volunteer fire companies such as ours have been severely financially impacted. Our normal stream of fundraising has been cut off, yet our costs to provide fire protection, emergency medical assistance and support for police at accidents, as well as community education, remain unchanged.
The First Federal Charitable Foundation was established to support worthwhile community causes. It strives to nurture nonprofit institutions and programs that will effectively serve those in need from the community, empower nonprofit institutions and programs that will expand their presence in and services to the area, and promote opportunities for new nonprofit institutions and programs that will serve the unserved.
Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation that are located in Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon and Columbia counties are eligible to apply. Any organization whose headquarters is in another county but services either Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon or Columbia counties may apply for a grant to be used in one of those counties.