East Mississippi Electric Power Association (EMEPA) has always striven to give back to the community as much as possible. One of the ways they have done just that since the 1990s has been through a program that allows donations to be made to local fire departments.
“We continually look for new ways to engage with and give back to the communities we serve, including a monthly employee volunteer program and participation in community events,” explained EMEPA Marketing Communication Specialist Jeremy Sollie. “The idea to start a donation program for our local volunteer fire departments came from that operating principle, as it not only supports the selfless work of the men and women who help their neighbors for no personal gain, but also better protects our members by providing departments with funds to improve their equipment.”
The value of the firemen and fire departments is something that EMEPA recognizes.
“When a fire or other emergency arises, time is of the essence,” declared Sollie. “Volunteer fire departments provide the reaction time necessary to stifle a house fire, rescue victims, and salvage valuables throughout local communities, oftentimes without getting the recognition they deserve. The service our volunteer firefighters provide is priceless, and we want to recognize them for the heroic work they do to help their friends and neighbors.”
Although the program has been in effect since the 1990s, there are still people who may be unaware of it or don’t know how it works and how easy it is to participate. Members are able to make a donation to a fire department of their choice, and 100 percent of the donation goes to that fire department. All members have to do to set up a donation is contact their local EMEPA office in person or by phone or just visit the website at https://www.emepa.com/mycommunity/vfd/. They simply provide details to make sure the current account is billed and say which department they want the donation to go to.
“The base amount for donations is $1, but members can elect to donate any amount they choose,” explained Sollie. “When members sign up to donate to our VFD donation program, that amount is added to their power bill each month and reflected on their monthly statement, meaning they are charged one total amount. Donations recur on a monthly basis. If members would like to make a one-time donation rather than a monthly one, they would need to contact their local EMEPA office.”
The amount of donations given each year varies, but they would love to the number grow.
“Over $43,000 in donations were received and distributed throughout 2023. It was a step down from the more than $45,000 members contributed throughout 2022,” expressed Sollie. “While $43,000 is still a great number and we appreciate any level of support from our members, we would love to see the number of donations grow each year.”
Fire departments in Clarke County have benefited from the program. Last year, about $8,000 were given to fire departments in Clarke County through donations last year. These donations can really help the fire departments purchase different items they may need.
Anyone who is a member of EMEPA can make a difference for a local fire department by simply donating at least $1 a month to any of our Clarke County fire departments.
