Firefighters benevolent fund formed

The Cheney Firefighters Local 1919 may be a small union — just nine members — but they are looking to do big things, and soon.

The union has established the Cheney Firefighters Benevolent Fund, and is holding its inaugural Benevolent Fund Fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 26, to raise money to be able to provide for whatever community needs may arise. Cheney firefighter Lt. Chris Munoz said while the fund will be managed by the firefighters, it is separate from the union and as of July carries the appropriate 501 (c) 3 nonprofit status making donations tax deductible.

“Generally it takes about eight months,” Munoz said of the Internal Revenue Service’s tax status process. “We did it online with their (IRS) new feature and got it within a week.”

The formation of a benevolence fund is something that has been encouraged by the International Association of Fire Fighters for many years. Munoz said other local unions have them, but the ability for Cheney to do so had always been somewhat cost-prohibitive since filing fees and the need to hire professionals to assist with required paperwork can be expensive. A donation from the Reardan-based business Crop Production Services enabled the Cheney union to undertake and complete that process.

Firefighters have helped out with funding local charities and situations of need in the past out of their own pockets, Munoz said. The formation of the Benevolence Fund will now enable them to put more bang behind those bucks.

“Being a small union we just don’t have the resources to take part in all the fundraising that goes on,” he said. “Our group as a whole believes in being a part of the community. This will allow us to do that.”

The Sept. 26 fundraiser runs from 5 – 11 p.m., and Munoz said the city will be closing off the 100 block of College Avenue to help facilitate all of the activities. Zentropa Pizzeria and Pub, 122 College Ave., is donating 20 percent of the proceeds from sales taking place during the fundraiser from 5 – 11 p.m.

Music will be provided by the Spokane County Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band, a traditional bagpipes and drums band founded in 2010 and of which Munoz is a member, playing one of the snare drums.

There will also be T-shirts and Challenge Coins for sale, along with a raffle for a dinner and ride along with Cheney firefighters and a silent auction. Some of the items for auction are four tickets to the Silver Mountain Indoor Water Park, a brewery and restaurant package, as well as wine; Eastern Washington University athletic gear and a package for the Waterfront Restaurant on Idaho’s Priest Lake.

“We’ve got a lot of things coming in,” Munoz said.

All proceeds from the fundraiser go to the benevolent fund. Munoz said they plan to use the money on things such as donations to local community organizations and individuals in need, scholarships and victims of disasters the department might respond to.

And while the benevolent fund will be run by the firefighters, Munoz added they plan to put together a committee they hope will include community members willing to help out.

“It (the committee) will help determine where the needs are in the community, and the programs that need funding,” he said.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].