FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
It has come to our attention that a telemarketer service is attempting to collect donations on behalf of "local fire & EMS" organizations for training and equipment.
The fundraising company is operating under a pseudo-name of "Firefighters & EMS Fund". Our department has NO affiliation with this organization and has NEVER provided any resources or financial support.
Much of your donation, or even all of it, could end up in the caller’s pocket rather than helping those responsible for your neighborhood’s public safety.
The organization actually attempted to collect a donation this morning from one of our own staff members by calling our station. Once the telemarketer realized he called a fire station, he immediately hung up.
The Rome Volunteer Fire Department NEVER solicits donation money via telephone fundraisers. Our typical and familiar fundraising collection procedures include:
- Our Website - http://www.romefire.org/
- Annual Mailer - (sent via USPS)
- Boot Drives
Please share this information with family, friends, and especially the elderly who may be easily confused by the harmful tactics that these telephone scammers use. Personally, I think it's a shameful business practice to collect donations under the misrepresentation that public safety services will benefit locally when that's absolutely not the case.
Donations are always welcome, and a vital part of properly funding our efforts to keep this community safe and educated. Rome Volunteer Fire Department is a non-profit 501c3 organization. Our donations are financially accounted for on a regular basis and are always tax deductible. If you have any questions about donations, or how to make one, you may call us at our station, private message this page, or send me an email.
We greatly appreciate the continued support of this community and its generous business owners/operators who help ensure our success.
Thanks,
Chief Kuhn
Phone: 740-886-6770
Email: nkuhn@romefire.org
Website : http://www.romefire.org/
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The Rome Volunteer Fire Department, established in 1962, is comprised of 25 members serving the citizens of Rome Township and the Village of Athalia. Lead by Chief Nick Kuhn, the department serves a 36 square-mile area and responds to an average of 500 calls for service per year. Rome Fire Department shares mutual aid agreements with neighboring fire departments in Lawrence & Gallia counties in Ohio and Cabell County, West Virginia.