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The Madrid fire department is the benefactor of $2,500 award from America’s Farmers Grow Communities run by the Bayer Fund. Members shown include, from left, Stacy Lee, Don Lee, Trent Harger, Mike Lee and Josh Harms. 

$2,500 gift to MVFD will go towards training unit

Thanks to an anonymous corn grower, the Madrid Volunteer Fire Department’s $2,500 closer to completing their SCBA mobile training unit.

The funds came as a result of the grower filling out an entry in the Bayer Fund’s “America’s Farmers Grow Communities” program.

The Bayer Fund selects winners from amongst the entries, each who earn $2,500 to donate specifically to a non-profit group.

For more than 10 years, the Bayer Fund has awarded more than 1,000 donations to eligible nonprofit organizations each year.

They believe farmers know the best places to invest the money for the betterment of their communities. The local donor felt the money could best be used by the Madrid department. 

Mike Lee, chief of the MVFD, said the mobile training unit will be a great asset for their members to train on using self-contained breathing apparatuses.

Plus, by being mobile, they can take it to other departments for training. 

Lee said they have already purchased a 20-foot enclosed trailer and have already started some of the conversion. 

By the time they get it finished, Lee said they will have between $10,000 to $15,000 invested in the unit. The $2,500 donation will certainly help in funding the project, Lee said. 

It will contain a modular maze that can be reconfigured into different arrangements, depending on the type of training they want to do. 

They’ve set a goal of completing the unit by spring.

 

The Grant Tribune-Sentinel

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Grant NE 69140