Sparta Township Fire Department Endowment Fund

Donor Fund Story:

The Sparta Township Fire Department Endowment Funds were established in January of 2002. After 9/11, the membership did extensive reviews of preparedness for man-made and natural disasters in the area. Finding additional revenues is always a problem for a small township volunteer fire department. It is impossible to predict when the next emergency will be. The decision was made to establish this as an emergency source of revenue to supplement the purchase of large expenditure tools and equipment. Discussions in our regular membership meetings revealed the problem. We concluded that it was time to act on establishing a separated, nontraditional, source of funding for emergency use.

In the event of a major emergency in our community, this funding source will supplement the fire departments traditional sources; property taxes and fund raisers. A well maintained fire department tools, equipment, station, and trucks require a large capital commitment to the community. The Endowment funds can be used to help relieve some of the burden on the tax payers that support the department. By purchasing equipment, tools, training, and resources needed to supplement and increase the fire departments capabilities. The Sparta Township Fire Department chose the Noble County Community Foundation to establish these funds because they felt that the foundation has proven itself as a trusted partner to the fire departments long term commitment to the community.

The members of the volunteer fire department are dedicated to their jobs and responsibilities. Members commit their time and energy to provide emergency services to the local and surrounding communities. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find capable people willing to meet the demands that the fire service requires. The Sparta Township Fire Department can and will be able to do more with additional voluntary support from the community we serve.