Without Fireman’s Carnival, NVFD explores alternate funding sources

One of the many annual Nome winter events to be cancelled this year was the Fireman’s Carnival. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nome Volunteer Fire Department’s main fundraiser, which traditionally takes place on the first Saturday of December, will not happen in 2020.

The Carnival is NVFD’s predominant source of funding, so the cancellation is a fairly substantial hit to the department, said Nome Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim West Jr. “We only have one fundraiser a year and that was it. So, we’re going to have to figure out what we’re going to do,” West said.

Typically, the money raised during the Carnival goes toward scholarships, search and rescue expenses, such as food and supplies, and some personal protective equipment.

To make up for the lack of fundraising opportunities, NVFD received CARES Act money from the City of Nome, as did the Nome Volunteer Ambulance Department. However, West said, this money does not fully compensate for the loss of the Fireman’s Carnival. Moreover, CARES funding needs to be spent on specific items, and must be spent by the end of 2020. West said they have not yet spent the CARES money and are currently determining what the funds will go toward.

According to West, NVFD is currently exploring other options to bring in the money they lost by not having the Fireman’s Carnival. NVFD can apply for relief as a nonprofit. “We might be able to figure something out there,” said West. Depending on the state of the COVID19 pandemic, it is possible that NVFD will hold fundraising events, such as a raffle, in the spring. “I know that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel with this vaccine coming on, so hopefully we’ll be able to figure a raffle out, or some sort of other fundraising activities,” West said.