Nine local public safety agencies received grants Wednesday from the ArkLaTex 100 Club.
A total of $33,290.47 in grant money was distributed to the first responders at the organization's annual meeting to assist them with needs ranging from a K-9 officer to rescue helmets and cameras.
The ArkLaTex 100 Club, Inc. was established by The Clay Eichler Memorial Fund.
The purpose is to benefit local police and firefighters on both sides of the state line in Bowie and Miller counties, according to a news release.
The goal is to raise funds for the dependents of first responders lost in the line of duty.
Remaining funds are used to purchase any unbudgeted but necessary life-saving equipment and for additional safety training, according to the news release,
Since June 1, 2016, The Arklatex100 Club has issued $22,072 in loss of life funds and $314,169.57 including the amounts above in grants to prevent loss of life, according to the news release.
The first responders and the grants they received include:
- New Boston Police Department- purchase of K-9 and training for handler-$3,000
- DeKalb Volunteer Fire Department- fire helmets and traffic safety vests-$ 1,639.90
- Maud Volunteer Fire Department- bunker gear- $ 3,000
- Pleasant Grove Volunteer Fire Department-thermal imaging cameras-$3,000
- Bowie County Sheriff's Office-repairs to helicopter- $7,000
- Miller County Office of Emergency Management- repair leak in roof of command trailer--$3,000
- Texarkana, Ark., Fire Department- rescue helmets, headlamps, safety belts, rescue jack and gas detector-$3,000
- Miller County Sheriff Office- Level IV plates for vests- $6,650.57
- C-5 Volunteer Fire Department-Equipment to wash gear to prevent cancer risk to fire fighters-$3,000.