Two first responder agencies in Richmond County are cooking food for fundraisers this weekend.
The Richmond County Rescue Squad will hold its annual barbecue and chicken plate sale from 11 a.m.-until Friday, May 3 at the base on the corner of Rockingham Road and John Street.
Volunteer Chief Scott Waters told the RO Thursday afternoon that the crew would be cooking up 400 pounds of barbecue purchased from Edwards IGA and five cases of chicken leg quarters donated by Perdue Farms.
Plates also include baked beans, coleslaw and a dessert. Orders of six plates or more are eligible for delivery.
Proceeds from the sale — which is the agency’s largest fundraiser — will go toward the rescue squad’s general fund to continue operations, according to Waters.
The squad gets an annual allocation from the county budget — which included an increase last year — as well as a quarterly check from the United Way of Richmond County.
However, Waters said the squad’s annual insurance bill is around $16,000. Other recurring costs include fuel for the vehicles and servicing current and purchasing new rescue equipment.
The squad recently added a Ford Explorer to its fleet and had it equipped with lights and sirens, and purchased a new boat with assistance from a grant from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Waters said the squad is in the process of buying a low-mileage heavy rescue truck with a $13,000 price tag. They have already made a $3,500 down payment, but the rest of the money has to be raised by August.
Donations can be made directly toward the truck fund, Waters said.
“All money is appreciated,” he added.
For orders or more information, call 910-895-9516.
On Saturday, the Derby Fire Department will host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 4-8 p.m. Plates will also include salad, a roll and dessert, and will be available for dine-in or take-out.
Delivery will be available for orders of 10 or more plates within a 15-mile radius.
For more information on that sale, call 910-417-1589.
Plates for both the rescue squad and fire department are $10 each.
Last October, the Derby department celebrated its 40th anniversary, which included a visit from Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey — who serves as state fire marshal — and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.
Also at the event, charter members Jim Lambeth and Brion Richardson were presented the Order of the Guardian.
Click here to read about the 40th anniversary celebration.
As of October, the department had 25 volunteer members serving a six-mile response area north of Hoffman, near both the Montgomery and Moore county lines. The response area has about 700 residents, according to Chief David Poland.
The county’s volunteer rescue and fire departments receive allocations from the county budget and have recently been allotted funds from the state budget with the help of Rep. Ben Moss.
