Several items were stolen from a Hickman County volunteer fire department after it was broken into, and firefighters hoped the community would help them bounce back.
Members of the Shady Grove Volunteer Fire Department have been serving their community without pay for the past 13 years, and even though they don’t have the most expensive or newest equipment, they still save lives.
“The building’s not what makes the fire department, it’s the firefighters and the heart and sole of volunteers who do it.” William Jackson, Fire Chief at the Shady Grove Volunteer Fire Department, said.
Unfortunately, the heart and soul of many of the volunteers were shattered in early February when after someone broke into the fire department and stole items they need to protect and save their community.
“They took chainsaws, shovels, flashlights, gasoline, gas cans. They went through all of our medical supplies.” Jackson explained, adding that whoever broke in stole over one thousand dollars worth of equipment, but they didn’t stop there.
The person or people who broke in also stole firefighting mementos that have been gathered over the years, many were worth hundreds of dollars.
In order to replace the items the department needs to do the job, they had to take money away from a fund that was meant to get their tanker truck back into service, which is important in an area with very few fire hydrants.
When 95% of the department’s funds come from fundraisers, that reallocation in money is devastating news.
“Why would you hit a volunteer fire department that’s out here helping and saving lives?” Jackson questioned. “Why would you hit somebody like that knowing how hard we are struggling to keep ends meet?”
While some of the items have been replaced, the department still has a long way to go, and now the department has to start over in the fundraising effort to fix their tanker truck.
“That’s our job as volunteers is to help out, no matter what the circumstances are and no matter how they beat you down.” Jackson said. “We’re still going to be here and doing our job.”
The department has been accepting donations to help replace their equipment and pay for their tanker truck.
If you’d like to get in contact with the Shady Grove Volunteer Fire Department or send donations, you can email them at Shadygrove1255@yahoo.com or send them mail at P.O. Box 76, Duck River, TN 38454.
