Emergency Services in Morden and Darlingford received a financial boost from the Morden Thrift Store earlier this month. The Morden and Darlingford Fire Departments along with Morden Police Service were the beneficiaries of the Thrift Stores bi-annual granting period.

"It's wonderful for us. That is our best day of the year when we get to contribute to the community. That is what we are there for," said the president of the Morden Thrift Store Jean Hildebrand, when asked about being able to give back $165,561 to the community who supported them.

The Darlingford Fire Department (DFD) was one of fourteen different groups and organizations who received funding. The DFD has just started raising funds to purchase a new set of Jaws of Life as their current pair is in need of an upgrade.

"The set we have are thirty-two years old and aren't able to cut a lot of the new steel anymore. I'm not going to say they are useless, but it's time to replace them," said DFD Chief Cal Funk, who is very thankful for the donation.

Funk noted a new pair of Jaws is worth about $40,000 and this money will put a considerable dent in the amount of money they need to purchase the new life-saving tool.

As for Morden Police, the Thrift Store was able to contribute $5,600 to allow them to purchase a new taser and an approved screening device, which measures blood alcohol level of a driver during a roadside stop.

Morden Police Sergeant Sean Aune explained the need for a new taser was there because if an officer takes one out on a call it would only leave one for the rest of the office and regional support tactical team. The roadside screening device is also another item which is great to have multiple of within an office.

"With just the one and it having to be sent away for maintenance and servicing. It was leaving our guys back here with nothing to test people," said Aune who explained the donation is much appreciated.

The third emergency services donation by the Thrift Store during the bi-annual granting period was to the Morden Fire Department, who was given $20,000 to help with the purchase of rescue and fire training equipment.

"We are upgrading our, what people may know them as, the Jaws of Life. They (Morden Thrift Store) actually bought us our original set and that was over twenty years ago. Now those tools just need to be upgraded a little bit," said Morden Fire chief Andy Thiessen. "We are also using some of the money for our training site. We are doing some development out there to help us with ongoing training."