December 15, 2023

Dear Citizens,

The Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) would like to thank you for your continuous support. Your donations have allowed us to purchase equipment and participate in training classes that may not have been possible without your generosity.

The SVFD call volume for this year increased once again as our community and neighboring communities continue to grow. Our members volunteer their time to make sure no call goes unanswered. Year-to-date our members have provided 28,376 hours to staff the fire station and responded to 704 calls for service.

The SVFD took delivery of our first-ever brand-new ladder truck this past Spring. We eagerly anticipate a new fire engine arriving in January 2024. As promised, the donations received last year were used to purchase new equipment for these vehicles. We have a few additional needs to upgrade equipment on our other vehicles, and we will continue to use donations for those purchases.

Our primary goal for this year’s fund raising is to help purchase new extrication tools (ie. Jaws of Life) to replace our aging equipment. Modern vehicles are made of materials that require stronger specialized extrication equipment when they are involved in an accident. The replacement of this equipment will allow our department to stay ahead of the advancements in technology and better serve our citizens.

There are several ways you can donate:
- Mail a check in the return envelope enclosed with this letter.
- Go online to www.smithfieldvfd.com and click on the “Donate” button on left side of the home page.
- Send PayPal contributions to donations@smithfieldvfd.com
- Drop donations off at the fire station (1804 S Church St in Smithfield).

The Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department wishes you a safe holiday season and a happy and prosperous new year.

Sincerely,
Chris Edwards, Fire Chief