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Jason Tulley (center), owner of Tulley Insurance Agency in Sulphur Springs, talks with Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley (right) and Cumby Volunteer Fire Department’s Heath McGraw. Tulley has launched a fundraising effort for all the county VFDs, which have not been able to do much of their own fundraising this year due to COVID-19. Screen shot/Tulley Insurance Agency
Fire chiefs: Expired equipment in need of replacing
Tulley Insurance Agency, 109 Jefferson St. in Sulphur Springs, announced a fundraising effort this week to offset any lack of individual events hosted by Hopkins County volunteer fire departments due to COVID-19 restrictions and concerns.
“We are hoping to garner as much interest as possible in order to benefit our VFDs,” said Kasey Knotts, agency manager with Tulley Insurance. “We realize that their individual fundraising efforts have come to a halt during COVID. They have been unable to host cook-offs or fish frys to raise money.”
Knotts pointed out that many of the VFDs are in need of equipment, such as air tanks, that can cost thousands of dollars. Some of the equipment is expired, the fire chiefs have reported.
“We are hoping to close that gap in fundraising for them,” she said.
Chad Kopal of Chad’s Media in Sulphur Springs has created a video for the VFD fundraiser, featuring each station and a few of the fire chiefs. The video focuses on the important role VFDs fill in the county communities and why these men and women feel called to serve.
The video is posted to the Tulley Insurance Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/tullyinsuranceagency.
“We have folks out here in our community who sweat blood and tears, who come out of the woodwork when someone needs help,” agency owner Jason Tulley says in the opening of the video.
The fundraiser is planned to continue through September. In addition, Tulley announced his agency will donate $1,000 to the VFD that raises the most money.
“We are offering our office location as a drop-off point for donations as well as providing online payment options,” Knotts said.
Links to make donations to specific VFDs in Hopkins County are on the agency’s website, www.tullyins.com/fundraiser.