According to John Monson, Chair of AgStar’s Fund Board of Trustees, “Rural communities are being asked to do more with less, even when it comes to emergency services. Many deserving volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance departments are struggling; often making due with outdated communications equipment and gear that compromises the safety of their crews. That’s why we at AgStar felt compelled to do more. This is just our way of thanking and supporting the people who serve and protect all of us who live and work in rural communities.”
THANKS AGSTAR — Bruce Holland (left) and Mark Scharf from AgStar present a $2,000 check to New Richland Fire Department Chief Jeremy Parpart as Cody Dobberstein looks on. The money will be used to purchase a rescue tube used in grain bin rescues. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
AgStar representatives Mark Scharf and Bruce Holland visited the New Richland Fire Hall on Thursday evening, November 3. They brought along a check for $2,000 which will be used for a grain bin rescue tube. The rescue tube consists of ten aluminum panels which are placed around a victim so they won’t be engulfed in the grain. The tube works similar to a cofferdam. Grain can be shoveled out from around the victim prior to the victim being lifted to safety.
The AgStar Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, recently announced $99,919 in grants through their Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grant Program.
This program awards grants up to $2,500 towards funding equipment for volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance squads in AgStar’s 69 county service area. Due to the great need and large volume of applications, for the second consecutive year, the AgStar Fund has doubled the budget for this program from $50,000 to $100,000. They distributed over $101,000 in EMS grants in 2010. Since the Fund’s inception in 2001, AgStar has awarded nearly $340,000 to fire departments, ambulance teams and rescue squads in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
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