Nebraska Firefighters Museum & Education Center
There have been a few changes recently at the Nebraska Firefighters Museum and Education Center. We have a new director, Jennifer Slater. Jen has a background in office management and is eagerly learning all she can about the fire service. Jen is full of enthusiasm and excited to meet everyone who comes into the Museum. Stop by when going through Kearney to say hello to the new director of YOUR Museum.
On Sept. 26th we held our annual exhibit change-out. We have several new trucks from Boelus, Friend and Wayne. Even if you have been here before, there are new things to see.
This is the time of year people start thinking about year-end charitable donations. Don’t forget about YOUR Nebraska Firefighters Museum & Education Center and Nebraska Firefighters & EMS Memorial. The Nebraska Firefighters Foundation, parent to the Museum & Memorial, is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions to these entities are deductible from your income tax return as charitable donations. Consider making a year-end donation. Always check with your tax preparer on the deductibility of charitable donations.
The Kearney Area Community Foundation is sponsoring a Give Where You Live event from Nov. 4th through Dec. 2nd for giving to benefit local non-profits, of which the Nebraska Firefighters Museum & Education Center is one. You can donate on or before Dec. 2nd by going to www.givewhereyoulive.net, search for Nebraska Firefighters Museum & Education Center, then click on the Give button. There are matching funds available through the Kearney Area Community Foundation for donations made during this event.
There are several other ways for firefighting organizations and individuals to monetarily support the Museum and Memorial. In addition to making cash donations, they can buy name engravings on the black granite caps, bricks commemorating or memorializing individuals or organizations and purchasing memberships. Firefighting organizations that have made monetary contributions within the last year are Blair VFD, Central Nebraska Volunteer Firefighters Association, Chadron VFD, Edgar VFD, Falls City VFD, Gering VFD, Lancaster County Fireman’s Mutual Aid, Lexington VFD, Loomis VFD, Malcom VFD, Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association, Nebraska Forestry Service, Northeast Nebraska Volunteer Firefighters Association, Ponca Hills VFD, Valparaiso Rural Fire District, and Wood River VFD.
These donations help to keep the Museum a great place to visit with family and friends. We hope you and your organization will consider making a donation or becoming a member of YOUR Museum.
Gregg Ericksen,
Board Member/Treasurer