The Canastota Area Association of Churches presented the fourth and final $500 grant to the Canastota Volunteer Fire Dept. Wednesday, April 13. On hand to receive the award from current CAAC President, Pastor Dave Allen of Believers Chapel-Canastota was Canastota VFD’s company President Doug Chandler and current Fire Chief, Lyle Chafee.
These “Canastota Volunteer First Responders Awards” are the replacement recognition for an appreciation dinner formerly held each January over the past 35 years. Wampsville VFD is planning to use its grant toward an upgraded extrication saw to aid their rescue work in the all too frequent automobile crashes in the area.
The money for this year’s grant came from a special reserve fund left over from past years’ fundraising, and earmarked exclusively for volunteer recognition. The CAAC has determined to launch a letter campaign soon to raise funds to continue the awards beyond the reserve’s expected exhaustion in 2018. If public response is strong, and a new chairman is identified, the CAAC Board acknowledges the possibility that a dinner or similar recognition could return.