Ireland Bank donates $18,000 to Soda Springs FD

Each year at the company Christmas party, Ireland Bank employees choose a specific organization to donate funds to.  The organizations are from all around Ireland Bank’s area of operation, and this year the beneficiary is the Soda Springs Fire Department.

In presenting the case for making the SSFD the recipient of the funds, Soda Springs branch bank officials stated the following: “Soda Springs Fire Department is a group of 16 or so men from our community that give of their time to take classes, train on a regular basis, and show up when our community needs them the most. These men do what needs to be done no matter when the whistle blows. (Soda still has a whistle and it is awesome). The Soda Fire Crew is devoted to their community. They are asked to do many things besides fight fire because our town knows how devoted they are. They do foam in the park and watermelon on the 4th of July, go to the fireworks just in case they are needed, and bring our local high school kids in and out of town with all the special treatment when they are doing great things. They educate the schools on fire safety and help our Police and EMS. Their current turnouts are near the end of their life expectancy per NFPA and need to be replaced. The cost for 1 set can exceed $2000.00.”

Incredibly, bank employees raised a total of $18,000 by way of direct donation to the SSFD, and a match from the bank.  The amount represents the most that has ever been donated by Ireland Bank through the program.

The funds are much needed, and will help the department update some of the equipment that is past its suggested expiry date. 

Many of the turnouts are on their last...legs.

As was noted by many individuals throughout the day, the fire department seems to constantly be in the business of helping out all throughout the community.  It is a rare time when a problem occurs somewhere in the city that the FD doesn’t get involved.  Chief Dan Squires and his crew have been amazing to watch as active and essential parts of the community.

Squires explained what the fund will be used for.  “Turnouts have to be replaced per NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] every ten years, and we’re on year eleven,” Squires said.  “Twelve on some of them.  They are between 2 and 3 thousand dollars per set, and we have 16 sets.  So this is going to towards turnouts, with some money that we have saved and some from the city.”

Having certified and updated equipment is essential to the department’s ability to do its job in a way that keep everyone safe.  “It’s just firefighter safety.  Even if that coat just hangs there for ten years, it still has to be replaced.  As it hangs there, the thermal layer that protects the firefighter breaks down.  So the pants and the coats will all be replaced,” Squires said.

Mayor-elect Paul Gritton spoke with Ireland’s Bruce Lowry and the SSFD.

Without the donation, the suits would still have to be replaced, but that would either come from city funds, or be delayed further.  “We would have just had to wait longer.  The Fire Department is all tax funded, so there’s only so much to go around between the library, the parks, and the police,” Squires said.  “It would have prolonged us purchasing the turnouts, which we can now do much, much sooner.  If somebody were to get injured in a fire, for instance, it would turn into an issue that the turnouts were outdated, and things could get ugly.  Plus, the new turnouts are lighter—technology has come a long way.” 

The turnouts weigh about fifteen pounds.  “And they’re hot,” Squires explained.  “It’s just like putting on your winter clothes and going into a sauna.  They’re heavy, they don’t breathe.  They’re waterproof, so your perspiration doesn’t go out.  They’re fairly miserable, to be honest with you.”

Ronda Lutz (Left) and Dan Squires (Right) speak with Ireland Bank’s Bruce Lowry (center).

Ireland Bank branch manager Ronda Lutz and regional manager Jennifer Squires were joined by Bruce Lowry, Chief Executive Officer, for the presentation of the check.  Lowry explained the process that had led to the donation. “Every year for probably the last ten years in connection with our holiday party we do a little fundraiser for a charity.  It’s kept getting bigger and bigger every year.  I think the first time we did it we raised about fifteen dollars or so.  That was awesome, but it’s got to the point now where we ask our branches to submit recommendations of someone in their local area we could make a donation to for a charitable cause.  We’ve done senior centers in the past.  We’ve donated to a park or two along the way.  Homeless shelter, food pantries, things like that.”

Ireland Bank is modeled on a community-oriented model of customer relations, so the bank is often involved on a very hands-on level with the communities it operates in.  “So, I think most of you know we’re kind of scattered all across southeast Idaho in the smaller communities,” Lowry continued.  “We had six submissions this year for the charity, and we put a committee together—I’m not a part of that decision—and Soda Springs Fire Department was chosen as the charity, primarily because you guys are in need of some equipment.”

“And then what we do is a silent auction,” Lowry said.  “The branches all chip in some baskets.  We have a lot of talented people who came up with some great craft stuff.  Then everybody bids on things.  This particular year really touched my heart, and it shows how our employees feel about guys like you that are volunteers and first responders.   When we got done with the auction, we had a little over $4,000 we had raised.  The bank matched that, so we had $8,000.  The submission that Ronda put in was pretty specific about what you guys needed and how much that would cost.  And so at that point we were short by a fair amount.  And so, we just made an appeal for everyone to make a little pledge.  We went from that $8,000 to the check we’re going to present today, which is $18,000.”

The amount is a record for the bank for this event.  “We’re pretty proud of that,” Lowry said.  “But boy, our folks just stepped up and the bank always matches, so it was fun to see all that happen.  It just goes to show that we like to do volunteerism at the bank, and the hearts of volunteers are kind of kindred spirits, so we’re grateful for you guys and we’re happy to do this, and try to help.  Thanks for all you do!  You guys have a dangerous job, but you’re always there.  It’s not just being there when someone has an emergency, but you guys also provide an improved quality of life with all you do.  We talked about the fourth of July, stuff at the park, there’s so much you do.  So thank you so much.”

Chief Dan Squires was at the party where the silent auction happened.  “I thought my wife had fallen and hit her head—she was bidding on so much stuff,” he said.

 “I knew it was going to a good cause,” Jennifer laughed.

“I thought maybe we should go to a car auction,” Dan laughed back. “I knew she was in a good mood, but I didn’t know about this!”

Mayor-elect Paul Gritton also attended the check presentation.  “Let me say on behalf of the City,” Gritton began.  “The significance of your donation is greatly appreciated.  We have a fire department that is staffed by some of the best.  I’m very proud of the fire department, and your contribution, this money, is going to help keep these guys safe as they protect the community.  For that, I very much appreciate what you’re doing here, and for being a very valued member of our community.  Thank you, and thank you Ronda for submitting the Fire Department to the committee.   It’s tremendous—I was shocked.”

Like all fire departments, the SSFD can always use all the support it can get.  As representatives of the city, businesses, and even the public noted, the Fire Department plays a huge role in protecting the safety and security of the town.

Like the SSFD, Ireland Bank is also a great supporter of its home towns.  As Jennifer Squires said, “The bank thinks it’s important to serve the communities that serve them, and this is why it’s important for us to give back to the community through this tradition we’ve started.”