The Vollies are again asking for our help.

October 15, 2010

Dear Friends and Neighbors;

For 88 years your Volunteer Fire Department has protected life and property in Gerritsen Beach. With the support of the community, this service and dedication will continue. Once again, your Vollies are coming to you with the mission to sustain our heritage of community service with a Fund Drive for 2011.

Every donation counts towards contributing to the budget that allows us to continue serving the Gerritsen Beach community. We are very grateful for any size donation within your resources. In the past many families have contributed in the form of a “Golden Donor” gift of $85.00. This donation from every family in our community will assure the continued security of a volunteer fire department. Potentially, your donation may be doubled or tripled by your employers matching gift program. In that case please submit any forms necessary to engage that opportunity. Please, submit your donation using the enclosed postage paid envelope with your name and return address, so that we can properly thank you at the conclusion of the fund drive. Checks should be made payable to “Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department”.

The Vollies are always looking for new members. If you or someone you know living in Gerritsen Beach would like to volunteer, please contact us at 718-332-9292. No experience is necessary; we train members to be dispatchers, firefighters, and even New York State Certified Emergency Medical Technicians. We also gladly welcome any residents who just want to lend a helping hand.

As always, in case of any medical or fire related emergency, immediately contact our trained dispatcher at 718-332-3333. We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The long awaited work on the Vollies roof has started!

The condition of the roof were so bad that the Vollies started getting used to leaks and even became afraid of it caving in. They didn’t want to lose the building so, although money will be tight for the foreseeable future, it’s getting done, while remaining in the black.

Money to fix the roof has been raised though what the Vollies normally do: teaching state funded EMT courses, holding CPR classes, and constant constant constant fundraising. Because of their efforts the Vollies have able to pay their bills and been able to raise funds for the roof.

The Vollies hope they will be receiving most – if not all – of the money back though state grants that have already been applied for. However, there are no guarantees that the state money will materialize.

After reviewing many estimates by licensed and insured contractors work began this week

According to Assistant Chief, Doreen Greenwood:

Support of the community must continue through our 2011 fund drive so that we can continue to stay in the black with our incoming insurance and truck payments. The mailing is already out to the community. Other operating costs come in every month for supplies, gas, electric, phone etc. We are hoping that the community sends in their donations early this year to help in our fundraising efforts.

We are very excited that there will be no more inside leaks. There was some damage to the ceilings that will need to be replaced.

We probably won’t know if the grant will come in until the spring so, until then, we continue to struggle to stay afloat since 1922.

The Vollies will continue to hold monthly CPR classes, continue on with EMT Courses at the Training Hall and continue with their constant constant did I say constant fundraising. They are also planning our annual card party in June.