They include some in Frederick County.
Reisterstown, Md (KM) Some funding will go out to fire, EMS and rescue companies around the state. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency says a total of $4-million was sent out to these volunteer companies to help them stay afloat financially. Spokesman Ed McDonough says these companies could not hold any fundraising events in 2020, such as carnivals, suppers and bingo games, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For the last 18 months, most of them have not been able to engage in the traditional fundraisers that are the life blood for the volunteer fire and EMS companies around the state,” says McDonough.
But they still had to respond to emergency calls despite the presence of COVID-19. . “For the emergency medical service folks, even with increased calls with a higher risk to the EMT’s and paramedics responding to those calls,” he says.
MdDonough says the money comes from the federal RELIEF Act.
With the help of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association, MEMA says it was able to get the world out to volunteer fire and rescue companies around the state about this money being available. McDonough says out of the more than 350 volunteer companies in Maryland, 181 applied for the funds, including 21 in Frederick County.
McDonough says not every company got everything it wanted. “Certainly, I’m sure, we had more money requested than we gave out,” he says. “But we certainly wanted to make sure that all of them who did take the time to fill out the application and demonstrate the need that we were able to give them at least something to help with their funding and to help balance their books.”
The Frederick County companies which received some of this funding are:
1.Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company which received $26,275.19.
2. Brunswick Ambulance Company and Rescue, Inc., which received $47, 756.85.
3. Guardian Hose Co. (Thurmont), which received $44,558.71.
4. Independent Hose Co. (Frederick) which received $11,944.12
5. Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company which received $11,155.08
6. Junior Fire Company No. 2, Inc. (Frederick) which received $5,905.58
7. Libertytown Volunteer Fire Company which received $25,981.97.
8. Middletown Volunteer Fire Company which received $39,858.39.
9. Myersville Volunteer Fire Company which received $24, 608.60
10. New Market Volunteer Fire Company which received $20,666.60.
11. New Midway Volunteer Fire Company which received $23,395.94.
12. Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company which received $25,234.71.
13. The Vigilant Hose Company (Emmitsburg) which received $107, 551.64.
14. Thurmont Community Ambulance Service which received $64,376.21
15. United Steam Fire Engine Company (Frederick) which received $8,017.66
16. Urbana Volunteer Fire Company which received $36,305.46.
17. Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company which received $65,413.27
18. Woodsboro Volunteer Fire Company which received $7,232.93.
19. Carroll Manor Volunteer Fire Company (Adamstown) which received $47,756. 85.
“This was an opportunity to help them at least recoup a portion of that money,:” says McDonough. “I’m sure it’s not making them whole. But it certainly will help fill some of the gaps that were left by their ability to have their carnivals and their suppers and their bingos and other fundraisers.”
By Kevin McManus