Thank you to our Friends & Neighbors who contribute each year to SGCVFD, Inc, from the Cape, Indian Pass, Simmons & Money Bayou, 30A, Jones Homestead & surrounding areas. Thanks to your generous donations to this non-profit; we have been able to enhance the equipment used to directly provide emergency services to our community. For this organization, the community is our membership and we only exist because of your donations.

There always seems to be some confusion as to how your donations to SGCVFD, Inc are used and how that compares to the taxes you pay for emergency services here in Gulf County. Please let me shed some light on the difference and why your donations are so critical to the services you have demanded and become accustomed. While we all aware of the property taxes we pay, it may not be known that a portion of those taxes are allocated to South Gulf Fire and Rescue (SGFR) for fire suppression operations and training. Florida law mandates that those tax dollars cannot be used for any other purposes.

You are probably aware that SGFR also provides the community with trained and certified Emergency First Responders, trained and certified Water Rescue services, and an elaborate Beach Flag program spanning from the State Park to the boat ramp in Indian Pass. That is where your donations become the life blood of emergency services in our community. Since SGFR cannot use tax receipts for these critical services that are unique to this area of Gulf County, SGCVFD, Inc fills that void. Since our nonprofit organization was founded in 2008, we have provided over $1 million of your donations back to the community to make it safer for residents and vacationing guests as well as helping out our neighbors in need when disaster strikes.

Your donations go directly to ensure that our 100% VOLUNTEER First Responders are on the front lines ready for emergency calls. We have provided funding for both equipment and training for SGFR to ensure that our community has trained medical personnel in their time of need. On a personal note, I have witnessed these services in action twice in the past year when my neighbors were injured. In one case, the nearest available ambulance was over 45 minutes away. Our volunteer First Responders were there in minutes to begin care for my neighbors, demonstrating both excellent care and compassion. I know that the families of my injured neighbors were grateful that our community has these trained folks when unfortunate events happen.

Our community continues to grow as new homes are continually being built, both for full-time residents and those who use their property for investment purposes. As the number of residents and tourists increase, Water Rescue & Beach Safety continues to be an important focus. SGCVFD, Inc, using your generous donations, has purchased two new Jet-Skis in the past couple of years, allowing SGFR to provide expanded coverage to the area while also ensuring compliance with governing regulations for water rescue operations. While those Jet-Skis are critical pieces of equipment, we will soon be purchasing new vehicles to get the watercraft to the beach. As most of you are aware, the harsh saltwater environment here along the coast is unforgiving on vehicles. The current Toyota Tacomas that are used by SGFR will need to be replaced as they are showing wear that comes with responding to emergencies as well as the extensive training our water rescue personnel undergo.

In addition, our Beach Flag alert system, with 20 Flag Pole Stations and almost 50 Beach Safety Team Volunteers, provides important information to beach-goers from Spring Break to Thanksgiving each year. While the recent storms, Hurricanes Helene and Milton, did not make landfall here in Gulf County, the far-reaching wind and high surf conditions had a devastating affect on our flagpoles. There were a few poles that were casualties to the surf and many others received damage that will need to be repaired quickly. Your donations go directly to replenish this equipment, giving peace of mind for tens of thousands of visitors to our beaches every year. Beach Flag information can be found on the SGFR FaceBook page (which is shared daily to several other FaceBook pages) and broadcasted daily on WOYS Oyster Radio 106.5 FM.

SGCVFD, Inc is also there to help our community in need. While it has been six years since Gulf County experienced the wrath of Hurricane Michael, many Gulf County residents are still rebuilding. We recently partnered with the Citizens for Gulf County Recovery by providing smoke detectors for homes that are being rebuilt. SGCVFD, Inc will continue to help our community in need when requested.

So how can you help? We all know that the economy has had its issues over the past several years. Everything is more expensive. But our community has a long and rich history of providing for its neighbors by continuing to fund the emergency services that we count on year after year. If you are able, we would like to request that each of you donate $250 to SGCVFD, Inc to help provide these critical services that tax dollars do not, and cannot, cover. We ask that you please be as generous as you were last year and help us support the 100% VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. If you were unable to contribute in the past, please consider joining your neighbors who have stepped forward to help make our community the amazingly great and safe place that it is.

How can you donate? In the past year, SGCVFD, Inc has launched a new website where you can donate directly to our organization. Please visit sgcvfd501c3.com for more information on our organization and to make a donation. You can also scan the QR code on the insert with this mailing with your smartphone to get to our website even quicker. If you prefer to send us a check, please mail your donations to:

SGCVFD, Inc

P.O. Box 163

Port St Joe, FL 32457

We are continually looking for ways to expand our reach into the community. If you have suggestions or ideas on how SGCVFD, Inc. can give back to the community further, please do not hesitate to contact us at sgfire501@gmail.com.

This time we ask YOU to answer OUR call for help!

Rick Cederholm

President, SGCVFD, Inc