Grant Awardee Community Spotlight: Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department
The Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue receiving grant funding from the Keweenaw Area Community Foundation in fall 2022.
The Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department (AVVFRD) was established on April 28, 1909 with the purpose of protecting the Village of Ahmeek and the surrounding area from fire.
The mission of this organization is to protect the lives and property of local residents, including the Village of Ahmeek and the Village of Copper City, as well as all other areas where assistance is requested. The AVVFRD’s mission is accomplished through firefighting and rescue services, fire prevention activities and community collaboration.
As research continues to modernize protocols and equipment, the AVVFRD has been working to obtain grant funding to upgrade equipment, offer more events and safety training, as well as to expand the area of service in Keweenaw County and beyond. The AVVFRD received three grants in the fall of 2022, totaling over $3,000, from the Keweenaw Area Community Foundation to support these projects.
Hazardous Materials Control & Clean up
Hazardous waste control materials that will be used to train responders, control, contain, and clean up our community.
The AVVFRD received funding through the Environmental Field of Interest Fund in fall 2022. The primary purpose of this field of interest fund is to promote and sustain programs, projects, and activities related to a broad range of environmental concerns.
The AVVFRD plans to use this funding to address the control, containment, and clean up of hazardous materials and fluids that are spilled as a result of accident, incidents, or criminal intent. At this time, there is no response equipment for these incidents in our area; the closest location is Ironwood, MI. These materials and protocols are aimed to serve the general community population as a whole as AVVFRD expands their emergency response capabilities.
Public Safety Training Facility & Classroom Furnishings
The AVVFRD also received funding through the Community Impact Field of Interest Fund in fall 2022 to enhance their gathering space. The Community Impact fund provides funding for a variety of community projects or programs dedicated to maintaining or improving the quality of life in the greater Keweenaw area. The current gathering space houses several sets of tables and chairs from the 1960s, each clearly showing signs of severe aging and are becoming unusable.
The new table and chair furnishings will either benefit community members directly by personally utilizing the facility or by receiving emergency services when needed by volunteers trained at the AVVFRD facility.
This space is used to host training on a regular basis for fire fighting staff. The space also serves as a gathering space for the Ahmeek Village Council, polling location for voting, fundraising center, and a general community gathering space.
Tables purchased to furnish and improve the community gathering space.
Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue ballroom gathering space with a combination of old and new tables and chairs set up.
Chairs purchased to furnish and improve the community gathering space.
Christmas for the Children
Since its founding in 1909, the AVVFRD has organized and hosted Christmas for the Children. Christmas for the Children is an event where the AVVFRD fire engine travels around town with Santa Claus on board to visit the local children and their families. Children are provided with a bag including fresh fruit, candy, a can of pop, and fire prevention materials. This public service event provides holiday cheer, spirit, and joy to the area while also improving incident readiness through materials and exposure.
The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) funded this program in fall 2022 through the Kellogg Youth Endowment Fund, where selected projects directly benefit youth initiatives and programs in our area.
Local family posing with Santa Claus during Christmas for the Children in 2022.
Santa Claus’ beard being pulled by a very happy, local child during the Christmas for the Children event!
Interested in learning more about ongoing projects or events? Check out the Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department on Facebook!