As a cooperative, Medina Electric works hard to give back to the communities we serve. In 2015 and 2016, five local fire departments were on the receiving end of that effort.
Normally, when cooperative vehicles are retired, they are sold at auction. In 2015, the board made the decision to begin donating some of those trucks to area volunteer fire departments. The number and types of vehicles vary from year to year depending on availability. So far, area VFDs have been very receptive to the program and have indicated that it helps them to serve the rural communities.
Nueces Canyon and Reagan Wells volunteer fire departments were presented with new-to-them trucks to use for firefighting operations in 2015, and in 2016 three additional fire departments received trucks: Atascosa-Bexar County Line of Atascosa County VFD, Christine VFD, which serves Atascosa and McMullen counties, and El Cenizo VFD of Webb County.
In the rural communities we serve, the local volunteer fire departments do an amazing job of keeping people safe and they often do so with resources stretched thin. Individuals volunteer their time and often work with little to no budget to meet the needs of their fellow community members.
This program is a small way that Medina EC can support these rural VFDs and the people that they—and we—serve. Keeping our rural areas safe is paramount and supporting the community is part of the co-op difference.
If you’re interested in learning more about this program or submitting an application for your local VFD for one of the trucks, visit MedinaEC.org/VehDonation. Applications are due July 3. If you have any questions on the program, don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-866-MEC-ELEC (632-3532) or [email protected].
There are two trucks available this year: a 2011 Chevy Silverado 1/2-ton 4WD extended cab with approximately 175,000 miles and a 2006 Ford F150 1/2-ton 4WD extended cab with 164,000 miles.
