BECKLEY, W.Va. — Two volunteer fire departments in West Virginia have been awarded $10,000 grants through the State Farm® Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program, a national initiative supporting equipment needs for volunteer responders.
The Ceredo Volunteer Fire Department and the Summers County Volunteer Fire Department in Hinton were among 150 departments nationwide selected to receive funding this year. The program, created in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council, distributed $1.5 million in 2026 to help departments purchase protective gear, rescue tools, communication devices, and other essential equipment.
State Farm and the NVFC launched the program in 2024 to address funding gaps faced by volunteer departments, which make up 82 percent of U.S. fire services. Since its inception, the initiative has provided $4 million to support responder safety.
NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch said many departments rely on outdated or insufficient equipment due to limited budgets. “We thank State Farm for taking action to address this need by helping local departments secure critical equipment so they can do their jobs more safely and effectively,” Hirsch said.
State Farm executive Rasheed Merritt said the company is committed to building safer communities and supporting volunteers who respond to emergencies ranging from fires to medical calls.
The announcement of the 2026 grant recipients was made on August 18, recognized nationally as Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day. In addition to the grants, State Farm provided complimentary NVFC memberships to the first 2,000 eligible applicants, offering access to training and support services.
A full list of grant recipients is available at nvfc.org/statefarm.
