Fire departments across Nova Scotia are the latest group to take fundraising efforts online due to COVID-19.<\/p>\n
A weekly 50\/50 draw has been set up, with half the funds going to fire services and the other half going to the winner.<\/p>\n
Captain John Long with the Liverpool Fire Service says about 35 percent of their budget comes from community fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd right now because of COVID-19, this is our only fundraiser. There\u2019s nothing else we really can do. We had our Chase the Ace but that\u2019s on hold until we can get people back in the hall.\u201d<\/p>\n
Long says the money from these events, and now the 50-50 draw, pays for training, equipment such as boots, pant and jackets, new breathing apparatus, right up to the purchase of new trucks.<\/p>\n
The draw is organized by the Amherst Firefighters Association and so far, over two-dozen departments from across Nova Scotia have signed up.<\/p>\n
From the Rafflebox site you can choose which department will receive the money.<\/p>\n
Long says when you follow the link to the draw from the Liverpool Firefighters Association Facebook page, the Liverpool department is already selected as the default choice.<\/p>\n
The first jackpot given away June 4 saw almost and eleven and a half thousand dollars split between the fire departments and the winner.<\/p>\n
That amount more than doubled last week to over $25,000.<\/p>\n
The draw scheduled for Thursday night is on track to come close to that amount again.<\/p>\n
Long is hopeful people in Liverpool will get behind the draw.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, it\u2019ll help, the more people that get involved, for sure. And as I said, the percentage from this area, or that is designated to Liverpool will come back to us.\u201d<\/p>\n