Salem Fire Department raises funds for educational materials
SALEM –Businesses, individuals, and community organizations can help teach children about fire safety by donating to the Salem Fire Department’s annual appeal to cover the cost of educational materials offered through the National Fire Safety Council Inc.
Fire Chief Scott Mason said the department has been sending out letters to past sponsors ever since he can remember and it’s that time again. Anyone who donated previously should have received a letter explaining the program and how to donate.
“This program is designed to develop fire safety education materials along with fire prevention shows in the schools that are targeted to reach children form the ages of 3 through the fifth grade. They offer age-specific, 24-page activity manuals, pamphlets on smoke alarms, fire escape, 911, kidsitter, badges, stickers and many other items used to teach the fundamentals of fire safety and burn prevention,” one letter said.
The National Fire Safety Council is a federal tax-exempt non-profit group which designs age-specific material used when the fire department presents programs at locals schools or hosts students and pre-schoolers at the fire station.
Salem Elks Lodge 305 recently presented a check for $500 to the program. Mason estimated that with the $3,475 raised so far, they’ll be able to reach at least 1,390 children through school visits, safety days and distribution of fire safety literature during tours at the fire station.
“We thank everybody for their donation. It will be put to good use for fire safety education,” he said.
Anyone who didn’t receive a letter and wants to help out can still make a tax-deductible donation by writing a check to National Fire Safety Council, Inc. and mailing it to Salem Fire Department, Attn.: National Fire Safety Council, 260 S. Ellsworth Ave., Salem, Ohio 44460. The federal tax ID number for the National Fire Safety Council is 38-2292422.
mgreier@salemnews.net