PSU Hall of Famer helping bring awareness, fundraising for local volunteer fire companies

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — A unique, local corporate approach to helping volunteer fire companies is continuing this year, with help once again from a well-known name from the Penn State football program.

“For those of you from out of state, Pennsylvania is one of the few states served by volunteer fire companies for the most part. Think about it. They volunteer to run into burning buildings, collapsing buildings; doing things we see on TV and are amazed by.”

State Representative Kerry Benninghoff spoke at the “Fuel the Cause" event on Friday, which is now in its fifth year.

The event is a fundraiser for volunteer fire companies in eleven area counties.

Helping the cause again this year is Penn State collegiate football hall of famer Lavar Arrington.

“I want to utilize and leverage who I am, and what I’ve been able to accomplish to bring awareness to making sure we’re funding our volunteer firefighters, our companies.”

Organizers say raising awareness is crucial in the ongoing struggle to recruit new firefighters for volunteer companies.

“It’s very difficult. The reason is the demand of the training. Everything training wise to keep everybody safe, the number of hours; no one wants to commit to that.”

Awareness is also playing a role in helping fire companies pay the bills.

“Even if you pay a fire tax in your community, that fire tax only covers compensation and healthcare for firefighters. It doesn’t pay for equipment and training.”

Nittany Minimart and Pennsylvania Skill will donate a portion of their sales to the fire companies.

Last year's “Fuel the Cause" raised $150,000.

The state legislature has also designated April 12th as “Volunteer Firefighter Day” in Pennsylvania.