Alarmers Sell Fruit To Raise Money For New Truck

When you need help, police officers and firefighters are standing by; when they need help, it's the Central Alarmers who show up on the scene—and to bring it full circle, now the Central Alarmers need your help.

The group is selling fruit to raise funds to help them pay back a $142,000 loan from the Baltimore County Volunteer Fireman's Association, which the group is using to help pay for a new vehicle to replace the 16-year-old truck they currently use.

A flier/order form for the fruit sale is attached to this article. Orders must be placed by Dec. 10, and delivery will take place Dec. 15.

The Fullerton-based all-volunteer group is on the scene at some of the county's biggest fires and police standoffs where county spokeswoman Elise Armacost has said they perform an "essential service" providing food, water and shelter to first responders.

Central Alarmers company president Frank Ward said the new truck is currently being built.

"The truck is being built right now ... the chassis has been delivered," Ward said. "Our fundraisers are small, but they're going well."

Ward said that so far the group has been able to raise about $13,000 across various fundraisers.

In total, to pay for the new vehicle, the group needs to raise about $190,000; part of that cost pays back the Volunteer Fireman's Association 15-year-loan.

The remainder will help to defray the cost of a $52,000 down payment the group lost earlier this year when a company they planned to buy the new vehicle from went belly-up.