Bayshore Fire Department receives generous donation from local RV park residents

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- A community in the Bayshore area makes it their mission to let the local fire department know how they feel about them.

The Upriver RV Resort donated over $11,000 to the Bayshore Fire Department. WINK News found out, they have been raising money for the department for over two decades.

“I had a heart attack here and if it wasn’t for Bayshore, I wouldn’t be here right now,” said Upriver RV Park seasonal resident Burton Schain.

Schain describes the Bayshore firefighters as his heroes, so he’s doing what he can to show his gratitude.

“Every year we get lifted up buy their generosity and support,” said Chief Larry Nisbet.

The community raises money annually to donate it to the fire department. This year is the biggest donation yet at $11,507! The money is always used to buy safety and/or fire equipment the department can’t afford.

“Every year we get better and better and better,” said Schain.

“With as generous as they are, they give us the ability to give us the things we need, that we may not have budgeted in because we are trying to keep as many firefighters on the trucks as we can,” said Nisbet.

In September, six firefighters were laid off. A lot of the department’s money is going towards bringing the firefighters back, leaving nothing extra for equipment.

“They had to lay off a bunch of guys, they need the money too, if we can afford it, we do a good job,” Schain told WINK News.

In the past, the money has been used to buy things such as nozzles, fire hoses, parts for the engines and even bunker gear.

“It makes me speechless, almost to the emotional level, from the love we get from that community.”

The residents of the RV resort do things like hosting a chili cook-off and a barn dance to raise the money. Making their generosity even more amazing, is the fact that most residents are only in the area for about four months out of the year.