The Cumberland County Rescue Squad is mailing its annual fundraiser letters.
The Rescue Squad is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that has served Cumberland County for 60 years. Public Relations Officer Eddie Frady said the fund-raising helps keep up with equipment updates.
“All our ropes, dive gear, all those things have a shelf life on them, and they cycle out pretty regular,” Frady said. “So it’s important we do fundraising every year so that we can keep up with what we’re replacing. You know, right now, we’re looking at replacing several dive suits and a bunch of rope and it’s extremely expensive to do that.”
Captain Dustin Burgess said the letters inform the community about what the Rescue Squad is doing. Burgess said there is no set goal for the fundraiser, but the Rescue Squad typically raises between $5,000 and $10,000.
Frady said the Rescue Squad relies solely on donations.
“As you know, with the economy being what it is, people are challenged,” Frady said. “They’re trying to make decisions about whether to buy food and medicine and take care of things. Money’s tightened up a little bit.”
Frady said the Rescue Squad serves as a backup to first responders like the Sheriff’s office, fire department, and ambulance. Frady said the EMS has a dive team and helps find missing people, and occasionally assists other agencies in the region.
“One of the things we did not too awful long ago that most people remember is the fire that was up in Gatlinburg,” Frady said. “We operated their morgue for them for about a week or ten days at no charge.”
Burgess said donations are appreciated. A link to donate can be found on the Cumberland County Rescue Squad website.
