$350 stipend to meet essential needs
National Volunteer Fire Council
Many volunteer firefighters, EMS providers, and rescue workers are feeling the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. To provide immediate assistance to volunteers in need, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has expanded the Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund to allow eligible responders who have suffered loss of wages as a result of COVID-19 to apply for a $350 stipend to meet essential needs.
“Our nation’s volunteer firefighters and EMS providers are on the frontlines of this national emergency, yet many of them are under great financial strain or struggling to make ends meet as their paying jobs are affected by the pandemic,” said NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch. “The Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund was created to help volunteer responders during times of need, so it makes sense to open up eligibility to include the financial impact of COVID-19.”
To be eligible to apply under the expanded criteria, applicants must be an NVFC member or a member of an eligible state association; be an active volunteer firefighter, rescue worker, or EMS provider; and have incurred loss of wages in excess of $500 as a result of COVID-19. Applications for assistance must be received by the NVFC within 60 days of when the lost wages occurred. One-time stipends of $350 will be provided to eligible responders as funds allow. View full criteria and apply for support at www.nvfc.org/support-fund.
The Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund relies entirely on the generosity of individuals and companies to assist volunteer first responders in need. The NVFC donates all administrative costs so that 100% of donations go to volunteer responders. If you would like to make a contribution, click here and choose “SupportFund” as your donation type, or contribute through our GoFundMe page.
The NVFC created the Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Since then, the fund has donated over $600,000 to help volunteer responders whose homes have been damaged or destroyed to do a state or federally declared disaster or a home fire.
