The second annual Corbin’s Hometown Heroes Bash Saturday will raise funds for equipment and support services for first responders across the region.
Director of Development Shannon McGee said the foundation uses the proceeds to provide resources that local government budgets and traditional grants often cannot cover.
“We just want to continue our good work with filling in the gaps for first responders, supplying things that city or county governments or other types of grants can’t supply,” McGee said. “We have provided recliners, couches for stations, we’ve provided bedding, mattresses.”
McGee said the organization has also purchased fire hoses for area stations and established a program called First Kids Backpacks. This initiative provides children of emergency personnel with a toy that can play a recorded voice message from their parent before they leave for an emergency response.
“It’s huge for our community and businesses to support Serve Strong,” McGee said. “We know where the needs are, we know how to provide those specific needs for first responders.”
McGee said the foundation supports all branches of emergency services, including police, emergency medical services, and both professional and volunteer fire departments. The foundation previously sponsored a resiliency training at the Palace Theater that focused on post-traumatic stress disorder awareness for personnel from 29 Tennessee counties.
“We want to continue to do all of the things that we were able to do for first responders, but we also want to expand our outreach,” McGee said. “We serve in Cumberland County, we’ve helped out in Roane County, Morgan County, and other counties nearby, but we want to expand our reach just to provide more for first responders as far as we can.”
McGee said the goal for this year is to double the attendance and the total amount of money raised compared to the inaugural event. Last year, the foundation provided assistance to more than 300 first responders across 12 different agencies.
“When the community and businesses support Serve Strong, they’re supporting the community,” McGee said. “First responders, they care for the people of the community, so they’re giving back.”
Tickets for the event are available through the foundation website, through the Serve Strong Corbin Scott Goad Memorial Foundation.