The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented financial hardships on the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company; a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that relies on fundraising activities such as the annual carnival, bull roasts, mailout fund drive and other public events for sources of income. Unfortunately, the current state of emergency has dried up our income streams involving public events and could do so through the end of the year. The state of emergency order has caused us to cancel all hall rentals indefinitely, postpone the start of Food Truck Thursday for the foreseeable future, and cancel our annual May carnival.

Fortunately, COVID-19 has not deterred our volunteer members and they have stepped up for the challenge by providing dedicated professional fire, rescue and EMS services to the greater Odenton community and Anne Arundel County. Since the day COVID-19 made its way to Anne Arundel County, members of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company have been on the front line responding to hundreds of calls for help. Night and day, our members leave their families and the safety of their home donating their time to staff the fire engine, ladder truck and ambulance.

How can you help? You can take full advantage of the new Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that allows you to take an above-the-line deduction (up to $300 – for taxpayers who do not itemize and those who do) on your 2020 tax return for making a generous tax-deductible donation to the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company. Your donation will enable us to continue to maintain our facilities, apparatus and equipment, and update our firefighting and EMS equipment as technologies evolve. Visit https://www.ovfc28.org/support/ to learn how you can donate.

From all of us at the OVFC, thank you for your continued support and generosity! Stay up to date on events by visiting https://www.ovfc28.org/ or our Facebook Page.  Together we will beat COVID-19, and we look forward to visiting with you at one of our future events.