Local farmer donates to Indian Lake Fire Department

When Dowagiac farmer Jeff Tidey was given the opportunity to select a recipient of a $2,500 donation, he didn’t have any trouble deciding which organization he felt could use the money.

“There was no other thought in my mind. I want it to the volunteer fire department,” Tidey said, recalling what he told a representative of the organization handing out the donation. “They serve a very important service to the community, and they do a terrific job.”

Tidey was given the opportunity to hand the ceremonial check to the recipients on Thursday evening. The local farmer was selected as the Cass County winner of the Monsanto Fund’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities, which provided the funding for the donation to Tidey’s nonprofit of choice.

Tidey was one of 1,300 farmers across the country that was selected for the program, which was started by the philanthropic organization in 2010. Since then, more than $19 million has been donated to more than 7,000 nonprofits across rural America, according to company leaders.

For Tidey, the donation is just his way showing his appreciation for the dedication shown by the 15 men and women that volunteer at the local firehouse.

“This is a little something to say thank you for the work you do,” Tidey said.

The department plans on putting the donation to good use. The funds will be used to help purchase a new $3,000 Ventry positive pressure ventilation fan, which can be used to eliminate smoke and other gases as well as help cool high temperatures during a structure fire, said Assistant Chief Bob Jones.

“If a $3,000 device can save a single life, it will be worth the investment,” Jones said.

Jones and Tidey are actually neighbors, as both live on Garrett Road. Nonetheless, when he first received news that someone from the community was donating several thousand dollars to the station, he didn’t believe it.

“I didn’t even think it was for real,” Jones said.

Normally, the volunteer fire station collects donations through pancake breakfasts and other fundraisers throughout the year, so receiving such a generous gift will give the department quite a boost heading into the rest of the year, Jones said.

“It’s really nice to know we’re remembered and thought of so highly by the community,” he said. “Sometimes it feels like kind of a thankless job.”