Dear Neighbor:
Another year has passed and it is time to give you an update on the West Grove Fire Company and seek your continued financial support. Our men and women volunteers donate their time to keep the West Grove Fire Company running, but volunteer service just is not enough. We also rely on the generosity of our residents and businesses to help us maintain our station, equipment, and all the other necessary expenses to provide safe and quality emergency services to the community.
Since our last newsletter…WGFC has entered into an agreement with London Britain Township to build a third fire station adjacent to Nichol Park , near the intersection of
Flint Hill Road and Route 896. Once completed, this fire station will enable a faster response time to the southern end of our district, as well as possibly helping to lower insurance rates for residents in London and Franklin Townships .
Renovations and expansion of the New London Station have been completed. Be sure to watch for information about an Open House in October 2007. Stop by and see what we have done.
WGFC goes worldwide…via the Internet. Since June 2006, we have had more than 126,000 visitors. Have you had a chance to visit our website? If not, check it out – we are at www.wgfc.org – like our volunteers, it is available 24/7.
We continue to raise money for the restoration of Antique 22, the first motorized fire truck owned by WGFC. The vintage 1928 is being prepared to be sent to rehab so we can put the truck back into first class shape. See our web site, www.wgfc.com, for more information.
As we move forward…our annual operational budget averages $350,000 which covers such things as insurance ($50,000), fuel ($18,000), utilities ($30,000), maintenance of our buildings and equipment ($34,000), as well as training costs, debt service on our fire trucks, and the purchases of new tools and equipment. In addition to these expenses, it costs an average of $6,500 to outfit one firefighter and approximately $500,000 to replace one fire truck. While we receive a portion of our funding through municipal support and grants, we rely heavily on private donations and fundraisers.
Over the past year, the men and women volunteers of WGFC have responded to 554 fire and rescue calls for assistance, saving lives and property. What if you were in an accident… you needed to be rescued… your house was on fire… YOU needed help … and nobody answered the call? Remember, emergencies take no vacations. Neither does the fire company which is why there continues to be a need to have an active, trained, and well-equipped fire company ready 24 hours, 365 days a year. Your donations are critical in allowing us to keep our doors open as an all-volunteer company.
As a non-profit, all-volunteer emergency service organization, your contribution supports improving our capability to respond when the community needs our help. Personal satisfaction in helping others in their time of need is the only compensation received. Our members spend many hours responding to emergencies in the community, as well as in training and maintaining the equipment so they are better able to do their jobs effectively.
As the Avon Grove community continues to grow, so too does the demand for emergency services. This year, as you consider your annual tax-deductible contributions, please keep our volunteers in mind. Adding $25, $50, or $100 to your annual contribution will help us expand to meet the increasing demands of the community. In addition to your annual contribution, this year consider adding to that donation a specific amount to support our planned expansion in London.
Please accept our open invitation to visit our fire stations in West Grove and New London . For more information visit our website or call 610-869-9326. Thank you again for your continued support and generosity.
