Funding & Supporting Us

Most volunteer fire departments in Pennsylvania receive little to no tax funding. Even those that get a municipal allocation see only a fraction of their operating costs covered. The rest comes from donations, fundraisers and grants.

Your support pays for the trucks, the gear and the breathing apparatus, the station and its utilities and insurance, fuel and repairs and medical supplies, and the training that keeps everyone certified.

The full version of this, and what the equipment actually costs, is in Myths & Misconceptions.

There are many ways to support us, and not all of them involve money.

Financial support:

• Direct donations. Give online, once or monthly, through our Zeffy donation form, or mail a check payable to McKean Hose Company to PO Box 241, McKean, PA 16426. We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your donation is tax-deductible.
• Attend fundraisers. We hold Breakfast with Santa each December at St. Francis Parish and draw raffle bonanzas live on our Facebook page through the year. The Community page lists what's coming up.
• Employer matching. Many employers match charitable donations. Check whether your company has a matching gift program. It can double the impact of your donation at no extra cost to you.

Non-financial support:

• Volunteer your time. You don't have to be a firefighter. Help with fundraisers, maintenance, administrative work, or community events. See our Volunteering section.
• Spread the word. Share our Facebook posts, talk about upcoming events, and help build community awareness.
• Keep your property fire-safe. Working smoke alarms, visible house numbers, accessible driveways, and cleared brush all make it easier for us to protect you, and reduce the number of calls and the severity of incidents we face.

Directly into the equipment, training, and operations that protect your community.

Major expenses for a volunteer fire department:

• Fire trucks. The single biggest expense by a wide margin. A new engine runs into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and even a well-maintained used truck is a six-figure purchase. One is normally financed over a decade or more, which is why departments plan for them years ahead.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE). A full set of turnout gear and a self-contained breathing apparatus runs to several thousand dollars for one firefighter, and all of it has to be replaced as it ages out. NFPA standards retire structural firefighting gear ten years from the date it was made, whether or not it looks worn.
• Equipment maintenance and testing. Hose testing, pump testing, air pack testing, ladder testing, and vehicle inspections. These are mandatory and recurring.
• Station costs. Utilities, insurance, building maintenance, heating. A fire station is a large building that has to be operational 24/7/365.
• Fuel. Fire trucks aren't fuel-efficient. Responding to calls and training exercises adds up.
• Training. While many courses are free through the PA Fire Academy, there are costs for materials, travel, and specialized certifications.
• Insurance. Workers' comp for volunteers, vehicle insurance, general liability. These are substantial annual costs.

Like most volunteer fire departments in Pennsylvania, we're a nonprofit, and our financial records are available to the public.

Essential. For most volunteer fire departments in Pennsylvania, fundraisers aren't bonus income. They're a core part of the operating budget.

When we run a raffle bonanza or Breakfast with Santa, that money pays for gear as it ages out, insurance premiums, equipment testing and keeping the station running.

The funding reality for volunteer fire departments:

• Many departments receive minimal or no municipal tax allocation.
• State and federal grants help but are competitive, restricted in use, and require significant time to apply for and administer.
• Fundraisers and direct donations often represent the largest single revenue source for the department.

The hidden cost of fundraisers:

The time our volunteers spend organizing and running fundraisers is time they're not spending on training, equipment maintenance, or rest. They already give their time to emergencies and training, and then they sell tickets and run events to keep us funded.

How you can help:

• Attend fundraiser events and bring friends.
• Buy raffle tickets.
• Share fundraiser announcements on social media.
• If you can't attend, consider making a direct donation instead.
• Volunteer to help organize or run fundraiser events. This directly reduces the burden on firefighters.