Sixty-nine percent of America’s firefighters and emergency responders are volunteers. Over the past three decades, the number of volunteer firefighters has declined, but calls for help have tripled.
Volunteer responders save communities an estimated $140 billion annually, providing communities critical protection with fire suppression, emergency medical services, search and rescue, traffic incident management, natural disaster response, and hazardous materials incidents.
However, with declining volunteer numbers, increased call volume, and an aging fire service looking to retire, departments need young volunteers ready to learn and eager to give back to their communities in a very hands-on way.
Volunteer Tracey Berry loves giving back to her community. “We do it out of love. It is truly the 'toughest job you will ever love.' And when you love what you do, it is no longer 'work.'”
In all of our towns, from Montclair to Nutley to Glen Ridge to all of West Essex to Paramus - we have volunteers who are there for us when our lives depend upon it!
Today, #GivingTuesday asks: will you volunteer? The live you save may be your own!
The NVFC has received a federal SAFER grant to implement this first-ever national volunteer fire service recruitment campaign. The goal is to inform the public about the need and to recruit new volunteers, including under-represented audiences such as Millennials (18-34), women, and minorities.
This call to action if part of their endeavors.
