Chili-Fremont Fire and Rescue awarded $5,000 grant from Nutella to support critical needs
The Chili-Fremont Fire and Rescue department was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from Nutella through a partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council, (NVFC).
Chili-Fremont Fire and Rescue is one of five volunteer fire departments nationwide to be awarded the $5,000 grant from Nutella, which will be used to help fund essential department needs. The grant was made possible through Nutella’s Stacks for Giving Back program, a partnership with the NVFC, the leading nonprofit association supporting the volunteer fire and emergency services.
The grant will be used to purchase Rescue 42s and other stabilization equipment, including lightweight cribbing blocks essential for vehicle and agricultural extrication incidents. The department’s current stabilization tools are over 15 years old, heavy, and require a team of at least three to four firefighters to deploy. The new equipment is specifically designed to be used by one to two responders, significantly improving response time and operational efficiency, an important advancement for a rural department like Chili, where immediate responders are often limited. The ability to take immediate action while additional personnel are still en route is vital for reducing time on scene and ensuring victims can be transported to advanced medical care as quickly as possible.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a supportive community and to be recognized through this generous grant,” said CaptainAlex Lendved of Chili-Fremont Fire and Rescue. “While we may be a small department, we pride ourselves on being efficient. This funding from Nutella and the NVFC will help us improve our response effectiveness and make a real difference in our ability to serve our community.”
“We’re incredibly grateful to Nutella and the NVFC for this support,” said Chief Toby Watson of Chili Fremont Fire and Rescue. “Having the lightweight, easy-to-use stabilization tools will improve safety for both our firefighters and those we’re responding to help quickly, especially when we have limited crew available in the first minutes of a call.”
Nutella’s Stacks for Giving Back program celebrates individuals and organizations that spread positivity in their communities. Now in its second year, Nutella partnered with the NVFC to award a total of $25,000 in fire department grants in 2025, as well as 150 Nutella Pancake Breakfast Kits, which provided local volunteer fire departments with all the supplies needed to host a community fundraiser. Learn more about the program at nutellastacksforgivingback. com.
About the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) The NVFC is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at nvfc.org.
