Several local fire departments and emergency crews are getting a boost from Flint Hills Resources.
Nineteen Coastal Bend fire departments and emergency response groups were rewarded this morning with the company’s “Helping Heroes” grants totaling more than $80,000. The money will be used to pay for training, education and to replace older equipment.
Flint Hills created the “Helping Heroes” program in 2012 as a way of saying “thank you” and offering support to fire departments and emergency responders for their service to the area.
In the past six years, Flint Hills has awarded more than $1 million grants to area agencies, according to Flint Hills Resources public affairs officer Andy Saenz.
“Every year, we put out a call for applications,” Saenz said. “We get some great applications. These aren’t huge checks. These are little checks but it goes a long way, especially to the volunteer fire departments. It’s money they can use for training and replacing the older equipment. They appreciate the money.”
Beeville Fire Chief Bill Burris was happy to receive money from Flint Hills Resources.
“We were tickled pink that Flint Hills Resource was doing this for all the communities around here and helping us out,” Burris said. “I appreciate all the help we get from anybody. All the donations. There’s a lot of volunteers out here that need the help.”
Chief Burris said he plans to use the money to buy a new paging system. This will allow the Beeville Fire Department to page responders so that they can quickly get to the station in the event of there is a call.
The 2018 grant recipients are: Annaville Volunteer Fire Department, Aransas Pass Fire Department, Beeville Fire Department, Corpus Christi Fire Department, Corpus Christi – Nueces County Local Emergency Planning Committees, Corpus Christi Police Foundation, Ingleside on the Bay Volunteer Fire Department, Nueces County Emergency Service District #4, Nueces County Office of Emergency Management, Nueces/Jim Wells Emergency Services District #5, Papalote Volunteer Fire Department, Pettus-Tuleta Volunteer Fire Department, Portland Fire Department, Robstown Emergency Medical Services, Robstown Fire Department, Sinton Volunteer Fire Department, Skidmore Volunteer Fire Department, Taft Volunteer Fire Department, and Tri-County Emergency Medical Services.
