Vital Volunteers

What do you volunteer to do as part of your daily life? Maybe you bake cookies or cupcakes for your child’s class parties at school, or provide transportation for your child’s teammates to and from sporting events. Perhaps you coach, tutor, or mentor. You might even participate in activities as a member of a local civic group or non-profit organization. Generally speaking, these activities don’t require you to put your life on the line to protect others, but that’s exactly what the men and women who make up Glynn County Volunteer Firefighters, Inc. (GCVFF) volunteer to do. They have been protecting life and property in Glynn County since 1952 as they carry out their mission to support the Glynn County Fire Department and assist the county with fire department operations.

All active members of GCVFF serve as part of an organized combination career/volunteer fire department. They are each trained and recognized as certified firefighters, support firefighters, and provide rehabilitation services while operating at the scene of a fire. This means that when there’s an emergency, fire, or special needs call-out, GCVFF will be there to provide care and assistance to all firefighters and assisting personnel on the ground at the site. They help the firefighters working the scene to obtain rest, hydration, and nutrition, so they can continue their efforts safely and in good health. They may also provide shelter for rest and warmth, or cooling, during high heat events, equipment, firefighting materials, food and hydration as needed. All of this is done at no cost to the county fire department or Glynn County taxpayers.

Unlike many emergency service organizations, GCVFF does not receive any tax revenue to support its operations. Members are never compensated for the time and skills that they volunteer. Expenses, such as supplies, training, equipment purchases, vehicle maintenance, etc. are funded entirely by donations from residents and the business community. Not only does this fund operations and services provided by GCVFF, it also pays for equipment that the county would not otherwise be able to afford. Past purchases have included power tools, ropes and other high angle rescue equipment, vehicle crash extrication equipment, fire hose, hand tools, and anything else used in firefighting and on-scene rehabilitation that the county fire department has needed and could not procure themselves.

Perhaps one of the biggest contributions made by GCVFF is in training and education. They provide scholarships to volunteer members so that they can complete training necessary to be fully qualified to hold a position with the county department when opportunities to hire become available. Many members have transitioned from being volunteers to paid members of the fire department, and they (continues)

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have taken their positions already trained and equipped to provide instant assistance and service. In addition, general education scholarship assistance has been provided to members of the county fire department and their families by GCVFF when needed and available. GCVFF has also provided training assistance and educational supplies including the core curriculum instructional materials, books, and training props for use in programs, instructor teaching aids, and audio-visual equipment. Due to their unique relationship with the county department, they often do joint classroom and practical training together, and as the budget constraints of the county department don’t always allow the best training resources, GCVFF can often provide valuable additional materials which will allow everyone to attain a higher level of education and expertise.

Each year GCVFF holds a Firefighter Recognition Ceremony for all Glynn County fire department personnel, both paid and volunteer. Recognizing the retirees, the service records of the working firefighters, the heroic acts of some of our members, and their families, in a public forum is a strong morale builder and team building event that would not otherwise take place due to the budgetary restrictions placed on the county fire department. This is often the only public recognition that any of these personnel receive, and it is funded entirely by the efforts of GCVFF. The event is cherished by all personnel and presents a great opportunity for all members of the firefighter community to get together and celebrate their contributions to the community and to the protection of life and property. Another public recognition for firefighters provided by GCVFF is the Firefighter Memorial.

Contributions and the generous support of individuals, community organizations, and businesses are what have enabled GCVFF to continue these important programs and services and to build upon them. You can help now by participating in the 3rd Annual Glynn County Volunteer Firefighter Golf Classic at Sea Palms Resort on May 21 as a player, or like EIL, as a sponsor. Format is a 4-man scramble with a 9:00 a.m. siren start. Prizes, raffles, and an awards ceremony are part of the day’s fun. Registration is $100 for an individual or $350 for a foursome to play in the tournament. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, with hole sponsorships only $100. To register to play or inquire about sponsorship, call 912.580.5895 or 912.222.9494. All donations are sincerely appreciated and provide valuable resources for this important organization.

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