Stacks for Giving Back: Grants and breakfast kits announced for volunteer fire departments
Iain Hoey
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Fire departments funding programme opens for 2026
Nutella, Pearl Milling Company and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have launched the 2026 Stacks for Giving Back programme, which will provide $50,000 in grants and 350 pancake breakfast fundraiser kits for local fire departments.
The NVFC announced that 10 departments will each receive a $5,000 grant, with Nutella providing $25,000 and Pearl Milling Company adding a further $25,000.
The programme is open to departments that are more than 50% volunteer, serve a population of 25,000 or less, are based in the US and have an NVFC member.
Applications for the grants are due by 30 April.
Consumers can also nominate departments to receive a Pancake Breakfast Kit for a local fundraiser.
A total of 350 departments will receive kits containing supplies and ingredients, including Nutella and Pearl Milling Company pancake mix.
Fire departments cited as facing funding pressure
The announcement states that volunteer fire departments often face difficulty securing funding for equipment, firefighter recruitment and retention, and the demands linked to rising call volumes and new training requirements.
The programme was launched to help departments secure operational necessities and support local fundraising activity.
Examples from the 2025 round were also included as part of the announcement.
The Landis Volunteer Fire Department in Marshall, Arkansas used its grant to buy SCBA tanks and wildland fire protection equipment and gear.
Lucinda Rolen, department treasurer, said: “Leveraging the grant money by purchasing new and pre-owned personal protective equipment from online suppliers allowed us to provide more equipment to better protect our firefighters when they are protecting the community.”
The Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department in Alabama used its grant to purchase equipment and tools that allowed all of its trucks to return to service.
David Hackworth, Assistant Fire Chief, said: “Morale has improved, training has improved, and members can now work on and train on a truck that was out of service and unavailable until we received this grant, which enabled us to get the equipment we needed to move enough resources to use this valuable truck.”
Chili Fremont Fire & Rescue also described how the funding supported a broader equipment purchase than first planned.
“By explaining the grant’s mission and goals, the vendor was able to adjust pricing, reduce shipping costs, and help maximise the impact of the funds.
“Being transparent with vendors can stretch grant dollars while maintaining the grant objective.”
The 2026 grant applications and department nominations for the fundraiser kits both close on 30 April.