Seven volunteer fire departments in Mississippi are receiving a major boost in resources thanks to the Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program, a partnership between State Farm and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).
On August 18, recognized as Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day, officials announced that a total of $1.5 million in grants was awarded to 150 volunteer fire departments across 44 states. Each department will receive $10,000 to help purchase critical equipment that enhances safety and response capabilities.
In Mississippi, the following departments were selected:
- Duffee Volunteer Fire Department Inc. (Little Rock)
- Harmony Volunteer Fire Department (Quitman)
- Hazlehurst Volunteer Fire Department
- Madden Volunteer Fire Department (Carthage)
- Potts Camp Fire & Rescue
- Stonewall Volunteer Fire Department
- Watson Volunteer Fire Department (Byhalia)
Volunteer firefighters make up about 65 % of the U.S. fire service, yet many small-town and rural departments operate with limited budgets. The grants are designed to help cover the rising costs of personal protective gear, rescue tools, communication devices, and other essentials.
“The NVFC is proud to team up with State Farm to provide critical assistance to volunteer fire departments,” NVFC chair Steve Hirsch said. “Firefighting and rescue equipment is expensive, and many departments struggle to find the funding they need.”
State Farm corporate responsibility assistant vice president Rasheed Merritt added: “We are proud to support volunteer firefighters — the ultimate good neighbors who risk their lives daily.”
In addition to the grants, State Farm provided free NVFC memberships to the first 2,000 eligible applicants nationwide, giving more responders access to training, support services, and resources.
Since its launch in 2024, the Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program has distributed $2.5 million to 250 fire departments nationwide.
For more information about the program and to see the full list of recipients, visit the NVFC website.
