North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will distribute grant checks totaling $145,000 to 29 volunteer fire departments when he travels to Halifax, Northampton, Hertford and Gates counties on Monday, Feb. 7, and to Bertie, Washington and Hyde counties on Tuesday, Feb. 8.
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 Monday, Feb. 7:
10:40 a.m. – Hobgood Volunteer Fire Department 100 E. Commerce St., Hobgood, N.C. 27843 (Hobgood Volunteer Fire Department will receive a grant.) 12:40 p.m. – Northampton Emergency Operations Center 132 Landfill Road, Jackson, N.C. 27845 (Severn, Conway, Lasker, Jackson and Woodland volunteer fire departments will receive grants.) 2:25 p.m. – St. John Volunteer Fire Department 1127 N.C. 561 Highway West, Aulander, N.C. 27805 (Como, Harrellsville and St. John volunteer fire departments will receive grants.) 3:15 p.m. – Gatesville Volunteer Fire Department 127 Main St., Gatesville, N.C. 27938 (Hobbsville, Gatesville and Eure volunteer fire departments will receive grants.) Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for Tuesday, Feb. 8: 9:15 a.m. – Windsor Volunteer Fire Department 501 N. King St., Windsor, N.C. 27983 (Perrytown, Kelford, Colrain, Powellsville, Lewiston Woodville, Askewville, Merryhill-Midway, Roxobel, Aulander and Blue Jay volunteer fire departments will receive grants.) 11:15 a.m. – Lake Phelps Volunteer Fire Department 89 Shore Drive, Creswell, N.C. 27928 (Lake Phelps volunteer fire department will receive a grant.) 2:00 p.m. – Swan Quarter VFD – Lake Comfort Substation 149 N.C. 94, Swan Quarter, N.C. 27885 (View construction progress of the new substation.) 2:25 p.m. – Swan Quarter Volunteer Fire Department 25 Oyster Creek Road, Swan Quarter, N.C. 27885 (Ocracoke, Scranton, Fairfield, Swan Quarter, Ponzer and Engelhard volunteer fire departments will receive grants.)