The Escanaba Township Fire Department has acquired funding for a power hose roller from an anonymous donor who reached out after reading in the Daily Press about the fundraiser hosted by Kindness Rocks Delta County, now U.P. Michigan. From left are Tom Sealander, Abel Murad, Jeremy Hughes, Kelly Narcoli, Mike LaFleur, Brad Milligan, Brad Liberty, Mick Jaques, Kent King, Abe Seymour, Scott Karl, Brian Hughes, Kelly Karl, Al Goreau , Brad Trombley, Pete Demay, Brad Barron, Richard Newhouse, Zachary Denome and Ray Hughes. (Courtesy photo)

ESCANABA – An anonymous donor has paid for the Escanaba Township Fire Department’s power hose roller after reading about the fundraiser hosted by Kindness Rocks U.P. Michigan.

After the Daily Press published a preview story Sept. 15 for the fundraiser, the newspaper received a phone call from the anonymous donor stating he wished to pay for the roller in full. The donor then contacted the fire department and donated directly to them.

While Kindness Rocks Delta County, which has recently been renamed Kindness Rocks U.P. Michigan, raised $380, the donor paid the full amount for the roller.

The funds raised through the group’s Back Our Red merchandise and Hose Roller Name Tag sales will go to the department’s general fund for other necessities and uses that are not funded by the township.

The power roller from RollNRack is advertised as costing just under $7,000, but the department realized they would need almost $9,000 to cover the full cost.

“By the time we put a quote out for that unit, it was a little more than we had anticipated. He covered it,” Escanaba Township Fire Department Fire Chief Zachary Denome said.

The roller needs additional jaws with a large diameter — a required piece for the unit that added to the cost.

This roller will make equipment maintenance much easier and more efficient for the firefighters, especially in large-scale emergencies.

Cris Moore-Lucier, founder of Kindness Rocks U.P. Michigan, started the fundraiser for the department after a member of Kindness Rocks U.P. Michigan, who also volunteers at the Escanaba Township Fire Department, discussed a need for the power roller with Cris.

Tyler Moore-Lucier, Cris’ husband, serves on the Escanaba Township Fire Department.

Escanaba Township will compile a budget for the year to go toward the department for such expenses as CPR training for the firefighters, truck maintenance and two sets of gear per year. However, this budget does not cover everything that would benefit the department or all of their needs.

“A lot of it is fundraising and donations,” Denome said.