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Newell VFD looks to raise money with Fast Cash Friday drawing

By STEPHANIE UJHELYI 3 min read
Some may call this Newell Volunteer Fire Department tanker truck vintage; however, the department takes care of keeping it in workable condition due to limited funds for any kind of department capital improvements. Fire Chief Tim Steele explained that the nearly 30-year-old chassis on it is the newest part as that had upgraded it by taking a body, pump and tanker off a 1980-year model unit. Despite its age, it is the envy of many surrounding departments due to its condition. (Special to the Review/Stephanie Ujhelyi)

This airpack is 17 years old and is beginning to show its age, as it sits on the bumper of a Newell Volunteer fire truck within the bay of the fire station. The department needs to purchase 20 new ones, which the fire chief estimates could cost as much as $150,000. In the state of West Virginia, regulations require department have a workable airpack for each seated position in an apparatus. The department’s Fast Cash Friday would help to raise money to fulfill that need as well as for new radios that can communicate as county officials are upgrading theirs. (Special to the Review/Stephanie Ujhelyi)

This airpack is 17 years old and is beginning to show its age, as it sits on the bumper of a Newell Volunteer fire truck within the bay of the fire station. The department needs to purchase 20 new ones, which the fire chief estimates could cost as much as $150,000. In the state of West Virginia, regulations require department have a workable airpack for each seated position in an apparatus. The department's Fast Cash Friday would help to raise money to fulfill that need as well as for new radios that can communicate as county officials are upgrading theirs. (Special to the Review/Stephanie Ujhelyi)

NEWELL -- Do you want to potentially win big money while helping a good cause?

The Newell Volunteer Fire Department's Fast Cash Friday money may be the option for you.

Participants can purchase tips online at www.newellvfd.us for $30 each to assist the department with its establishment of a ongoing capital improvement fund.

Three hundred tips are available to purchase with the winner getting $3,500 and two runners-up getting $100 each.

Steele said funds will be used to replace the department's aging airpacks to the tune of around $150,000 and radios --which need to be upgraded to communicate with Hancock County's new system. He estimates the radios could cost as much as $200,000.

In West Virginia departments are required to provide every seated position in an apparatus with an airpack, which contains all the corresponding equipment but the bottles that need to be refilled at either Chester or New Cumberland' filling station when needed.

The department has two pumpers, one tanker, a river rescue boat, two recovery boats, one squad truck and a hazmat trailer among its equipment -- all that need to be maintained and eventually replaced.

Department Vice President of Operations Seth Cheuvront explained that last year, Newell VFD spent between $15,000 and $20,000 just on maintaining existing equipment. This fund would assist with that as well as acquiring new equipment when needed.

Most of the department's funding is from rentals at the Wells Building, weekly bingo games and fundraisers like Fast Cash Friday. "The goal is to establish a renewable funding source," Cheuvront added.

Currently the department has 16 firefighters. Chief Steele says it costs between $5,000 and $6,000 per or nearly $80,000.

Tickets can be purchased online at the department's website either by using PayPal, Venmo, Googlepay, Metapay or Shoppay.

The drawing, which will be live-streamed on the department's Facebook, will occur when all 300 tickets are sold, Cheuvront concluded.

Starting at /week.