New Paltz sends Five of our Bravest for Training
In April of this year, five local firefighters from the New Paltz Volunteer Fire Dept joined with other American Firefighters to be trained as Emergency Reserves for the Israel Fire Department, to be called upon in times of National Emergency in Israel.
These local heroes have bravely stepped up and volunteered to be called up for service when needed. When volunteering in Israel, they will respond to all need for Emergency Services, in all parts of Israel, without regard to politics, and will come to the aid of all in need, just as they do here.
Individual members of the NP VFD will be doing this in their own time, not through the NP VFD, but they have the full support of their VFD in this admirable venture.
The first step of their service was hands-on training in Israel, where they met the firefighters they will be working with if called up to assist, and training to use the Israeli equipment and resources.
Initial travel and training costs for our five volunteers totalled over $12,500.00, and now we are raising the funds which will be needed to send them back when they are "Called Up" for duty, so we are asking for your continued monetary support.
UPDATE 11/30:
Times Herald-Record
LOCALS READY TO GO
New Paltz - Two local firefighters are on standby alert to join international efforts to fight a raging fire outside of Haifa, Israel.
Scott Schulte and Roger Thorpe Jr. are part of a five man team who trained in Israel last summer to help fellow firefighters in the event of military attacks.
Butch Dener, who organized the training said Friday evening, "They've got their bags packed and are ready to go." Dener said their involvement would be based on the country's assessment of its needs.
"The call could come as early as Saturday morning, or as late as early next week" , he said.
- Jeremiah Horrigan
UPDATE 5/30:
We are proud to post the link below to a promotional video for the Emergency Volunteer Project (EVP) in Israel, featuring our New Paltz Heroes and their training in Israel for emergency response.
The New Paltz Heroes for Israel project continues to raise funds for emergency travel to Israel in the event of a national emergency, and your donations are appreciated now more than ever. Please keep us in your giving plans.
We thank all of you for making the training trip possible and hope you will enjoy this film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETS4g8no5ys
UPDATE: 4/23:
Our volunteers are home from Israel, and had an amazing experience, training for bomb rescues and response to terrorist attacks, with the finest bomb squads in the world. Their knowledge and expertise will make them ready to respond in any eventuality, here at home, or abroad. We are so proud of how they represented our Country, our State and our Town to the whole nation of Israel. We will be adding stories and photos of their training and their turn on Israeli television, being interviewed about their participation in the EVP, over the next few weeks.
WELCOME HOME, NEW PALTZ HEROES!
Thank you to everyone who is contributing to this Project.
We continue to raise funds, to answer the call and send the volunteers to Israel when needed.
How can you help?
You can send $18 as a token of Support
You can send $100 for materials
You can send $500 for food and lodging in Israel
You can send $1000 for RT airfare for one Firefighter
You can personally Sponsor one Firefighter's training in Israel for $2,500
DONATIONS can be mailed to:
New Paltz Heroes for Israel
P.O. Box 841
New Paltz NY 12561
Or you can Donate through Paypal:
FMI, or to volunteer assistance please call Butch at 845-527-4100
Please sign our Guestbook:
