Sedalia Firefighters Local 103 giving back to community

Sedalia firefighters planned two donations this week for local charitable causes.

On Monday, the Sedalia Firefighters Local 103 donated $150 to the RE1HAB van, a renovated ambulance staffed by volunteers that provides on-site relief for police or firefighters who remain on a scene for extended periods.

Doc Buckley, who helped develop the idea for the RE1HAB van with Sedalia Patrolwoman Victoria Kottman, said the van is supplied and staffed solely through donations of time and resources. The van is dispatched to emergency situations through the Sedalia Police Department, and typically four volunteers man the vehicle, distributing drinks and offering shelter to local emergency responders.

“We offer support any time something goes down where there’s going to be an overload of resources and those people need to be refurbished,” Buckley said. “Our main objective is to serve the people who protect others.”

Buckley, who worked in law enforcement in Florida for much of his life, described the community and volunteer spirit in Pettis County as extremely refreshing.

Sedalia firefighter Jamie Volk said firefighters took the money out of their funds because they wanted to support the efforts of the volunteers who donate their time to relieve emergency personnel.

“It gives us a warm, dry place in the winter and a cool, dry place in the summer,” Volk said. “It’s a great asset to us.”

Volk said the local firefighter union also intends to make another donation to the Community Credit Union’s Christmas fund later this week.

“We try to give money back to the community that helps us with the things we do,” Volk said.