Martin Walton, President of the NSFBF. Photo: Submitted Photo
The Nova Scotia Firefighters Benevolent Fund (NSFBF) has been adding members from around the province, expanding its reach beyond the South Shore.
The organization which was founded in 2019 by five Lunenburg County firefighters aims to help firefighters with some of the associated costs with their jobs.
Recently applications to access the fund have been opened to fire departments province-wide and the NSFBF has received approval as a registered charity under the Income Tax Act, which will make fundraising easier.
According to Martin Walton, the NSFBF President the fund helps firefighters cover the costs of travel, medical expenses, and hotel accommodations.
“Costs associated with traveling great distances to medical appointments, or recuperating from an illness or injury, can quickly add up, significantly impacting a family’s financial resources. We want to relieve those pressures,” said Walton.
COVID-19 has created a number of challenges for fundraising, especially for non-profits and fire stations who often rely on the funds for operation and to cover unexpected expenses, said Walton.
He said the Board composition will be expanded to include representation from all regions of the province, and fundraising and disbursement committees have also been established.
In addition to Walton, the NSFBF’s founding Board of Directors is comprised of Dave Robb, deputy chief, Lunenburg and District Fire Department; Andy Wentzell, deputy chief, Bridgewater Fire Department; Peter Simpson, firefighter and medical first responder, Dayspring and District Fire Department; and Will Brooks, founder and past president of the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
