Latest Donation Comes after $200,000 Donation in 2020 to Assist with Purchasing New Safety Equipment; “The Cayuga Nation is Committed to Giving Back to the Community and Being Good Neighbors,” says Cayuga Nation Leader Clint Halftown
UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (November 17, 2022)—The Cayuga Nation today donated $70,000 to the Union Springs Fire Department for a new Medical Rescue vehicle that better suits the needs of the department and the community. Members of the Cayuga Nation Tribal Council visited the Union Springs Fire Department facility today to hand deliver the check.
The new Medical Rescue vehicle will house essential medical materials, including lifesaving vehicle rescue tools, wildland equipment and ice rescue supplies. Unlike the department’s current vehicle, this new model has four-wheel drive, allowing for more efficient navigation in winter weather and in conditions when first responders must leave the roadway to get to the site of an emergency.
“The Cayuga Nation has always been a good neighbor and a positive force that makes sure we have what we need to protect the community,” said Union Springs Fire Department Chief Garret Waldron. “We appreciate the outstanding working relationship we have with the Cayuga Nation and their continued support.”
“The Cayuga Nation is committed to giving back to the community and being good neighbors wherever we can,” said Cayuga Nation Leader and Federal Representative Clint Halftown. “Members of the Union Springs Fire Department put their lives in harm’s way every day to keep our community safe, and we are proud to help them access the equipment and resources they need to do their important work.”
The Cayuga Nation in September 2020 made the largest equipment donation to date, giving the Union Springs Fire Department $200,000 for new MSA air packs, spare bottles and MSA masks for every department member. That support, coupled with the new Medical Rescue vehicle, will better equip the Union Springs Fire Department to keep the residents of Union Springs, Springport and Cayuga Lake as safe as possible.
About the Cayuga Nation
The Cayuga Nation is a federally recognized sovereign Indian nation established in 1794 by the Treaty of Canandaigua. The Nation’s sovereign and federally protected 64,015-acre reservation is located in Seneca and Cayuga Counties in the State of New York. The Cayuga Nation Council, led by Clint Halftown, Tim Twoguns, Gary Wheeler, Donald Jimerson and Michael Barringer, serves as the official governing body for the entire Nation. With more than 500 citizens across the country, the Cayuga Nation and its leadership provide national benefits to Cayuga Nation citizens, including financial support, cultural enrichment opportunities, food distribution and community events, among other benefits. These activities have allowed Cayuga Nation citizens to return to their homeland with an opportunity for housing and employment, which helps preserve the Cayuga Nation’s culture.
About the Union Springs Fire Department
The Union Springs Fire Department proudly protects 3,000 people across 28 square miles, operating out of one station that serves the Village of Union Springs, the Town of Springport and a large portion of Cayuga Lake. The Union Hose & Engine Company, Inc. was formed in 1906. Today, the department has 30 active members who provide 24-hour service 365 days per year. The department’s community is located on the east side of Cayuga Lake in central New York, ranging from 3,000 residents in the winter to 3,900 residents in the busier summer months. The Union Springs Fire Department’s main objective is to provide fire rescue and protection on land and water and to keep residents as safe as possible.