G-P Bucket Brigade Has Given $2 Million to Support Firefighters

This year marks the 10th anniversary of tissue producer Georgia-Pacific’s (Atlanta, Ga., USA) Bucket Brigade program, through which the company has given more than $2 million to fire departments in cash and educational materials that serve its facility communities across the country.

This year, G-P awarded 33 grants for a total of $170,000 to fire departments for equipment critical to firefighters’ safety.  Funds are typically used to purchase new protective clothing like coats and boots, and replace items such as damaged safety gear and aging equipment.

 

 

GP’s goal since the program began 10 years ago has been to help first-responders have the equipment they need to better protect themselves, and help keep communities safe. G-P awarded 335 grants, spanning more than 270 fire departments in its facility communities. 

More than 70% of firefighters are volunteers so these grants go a long way. Also, many G-P employees serve as volunteer firefighters in their communities.

In addition, every grant applicant received a free membership to The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), which provides access to tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first-responders across the nation.

The fire departments receiving Bucket Brigade grants this year span 18 U.S. states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.