Rural fire departments gifted by Harps

ROGERS — Six area volunteer fire departments received a $1,000 donation each from Harp’s recently.

Fire chiefs from Avoca, Northeast Benton County, Beaver Lake, Rocky Branch, Piney Point and 94 East fire departments met at Harp’s in Rogers to receive checks presented by store manager Vernon Fernandez. Harps holds an annual charity golf tournament and tries to vary from year to year what charity money is donated to, said controller Debbie Creek.

“This year we decided to help out the volunteer fire departments in the area, there are six of them - Times are tough for all of them,” Creek said.

“We’re going to use this money for personal protective equipment,” Avoca Fire Chief Frankie Elliot said.

“Structure gear, helmet, gloves, Nomex hoods, boots - you always need that.”

NEBCO Fire Chief Rob Taylor agreed the money will be useful, but does not have anything particular in mind at this time.

“We will split it half into fire and half into EMS,” he said.

The golf tournament happened

at Pinnacle Country Club in Rog

ers. Creek said Harps’ vendors

come to play and the companyusually raises about $125,000 per year. The money goes to support all the communities where Harps has stores, Creek said.