North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will distribute grant checks totaling $25,000 to five volunteer fire departments when he travels to Cherokee, Graham and Swain counties on Thursday, Feb. 17.
The grants are the result of a $500,000 contribution made by Blue Cross Blue Shield NC to help firefighters in North Carolina. Half of the contribution will be distributed in $5,000 grants to the 50 North Carolina volunteer fire departments that received the least amount of funding from local governments. The remaining $250,000 will go toward mental health education and treatment programs for North Carolina firefighters.
“It is an honor for me to personally be able to present these $5,000 grant checks, courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield NC,” Commissioner Causey, who is also the State Fire Marshal, said. “This money will help these needy fire departments to better protect their community. The coronavirus pandemic has presented an added challenge to their fundraising efforts.”
Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for Thursday, Feb. 17:
9:30 a.m. – Murphy Fire Department 1 Firehouse Lane., Murphy, N.C. 28906 (Grape Creek and Unaka volunteer fire departments will receive grants.) 11:00 a.m. – Graham County Volunteer Fire Department 70 W. Ford Hill Road, Robbinsville, N.C. 28771 (Graham Volunteer Fire Department will receive a grant.) 12:45 p.m. – Stecoah Township Rescue Squad and Fire Department 30 Loyd and Lydia Drive, Robbinsville, N.C. 28771 (Stecoah Township Rescue Squad and Fire Department will receive a grant.) 1:30 p.m. – Alarka Volunteer Fire Department 3601 Alarka Road, Bryson City, N.C. 28713 (Alarka Volunteer Fire Department will receive a grant.)