North Carolina Volunteer Fire Departments Get Grants from Blue Cross Donation

North Carolina’s insurance commissioner said he plans to distribute more than $145,000 in grants this week to volunteer fire departments in seven counties.

The grants are part of the $500,000 that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina recently donated to help firefighters in the state, Commissioner Mike Causey said in a statement. Volunteer departments’ fundraising efforts have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Causey said the money is much needed across the state.

Half of the Blue Cross contribution will be made in $5,000 grants to the 50 volunteer fire departments that have received the least amount of funding from local governments, Causey explained. The other $250,000 will be used for mental health education and treatment programs for firefighters.