Sumrall Fire Grading District receives $5,000 grant

| Jana Bryant, M.S., Public Affairs Management

PURVIS, Miss. - The Sumrall Fire Grading District has received a $5,000 Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade grant to help fund safety equipment needs. The department is among 31 grant recipients nationwide in GP’s 2016 Bucket Brigade program.

“We greatly appreciate the Bucket Brigade grant, and it will help us purchase new SCBA units (self-contained breathing apparatus) that our firefighters need,” said Sumrall Fire Chief Heath Sumrall. “Keeping our equipment up to date is important in our ability to protect our communities and keep our volunteers safe.”

The Sumrall department is one of five Mississippi Bucket Brigade recipients and is among 31 recipients from 18 states across the country. In its 10-year history, the GP Bucket Brigade program has awarded $2 million to nearly 300 fire departments in GP facility communities.

“We’re proud of the opportunity to help meet some significant needs of one of our local volunteer fire departments,” said Amanda Crowley, SPG human resources manager. “The Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade grants allow first-responders to better ensure the safety and security of the people in our area communities.”

The need-based grants range from $2,500 to $10,000 and are funded by the Georgia-Pacific Foundation and local GP facilities. Funds are typically used to purchase new protective clothing and replace items such as damaged safety gear and aging equipment. Additionally, Georgia-Pacific gives all grant applicants free memberships to The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), which provides access to tools, resources, programs and advocacy for first-responders across the nation.