Powering Up Colington Firefighters: New Grant Supports Critical Equipment Upgrades

The Colington Volunteer Fire Department has received a vital boost thanks to a new grant from the OBX First Responder Giving Program Fund, a recently established fund through the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF).

The funding will allow the department to upgrade essential tools, helping firefighters respond more effectively to emergencies and maintain high-quality fire and life safety services for the community.

“The Colington Volunteer Fire Department relies heavily on donations and fundraisers so we can upgrade and replace equipment used during emergencies as well as items used in training,” said Chief Glenn Rainey. “These upgrades aren’t always possible through our normal budget, so opportunities like this grant are vital in allowing us to serve our community.”

The recent grant is already making an impact. The department has been able to replace older chain and rotary saws with more powerful battery-operated models. These tools give firefighters added strength when ventilating smoke-filled buildings and can operate safely in situations where traditional gas motors may struggle. Additionally, the grant supports the replacement of vehicle extrication tools, commonly known as the “Jaws of Life,” which are critical for freeing people trapped in wrecked cars.

“These tools are essential for our work,” said Chief Rainey. “Community partnerships have become an integral part of allowing us to maintain high-quality fire and life safety services to the community. This grant ensures that our firefighters have the equipment they need when every second counts.”

David Sawin created the OBX First Responder Giving Program Fund to provide ongoing support for Outer Banks first responder organizations. The fund is supported by a percentage of revenue from his Seafood Boil delivery company, Firehouse Boil. Grants from the fund help cover critical equipment, training tools, and other essentials that often fall outside the limited budgets of volunteer and small-town emergency services.

“When we started the company and the giving program, I wanted to honor my father, Steve Sawin, who served as a volunteer firefighter for the Town of Kill Devil Hills for many years,” said Sawin. “Our Dad taught us a sense of community and servant leadership from an early age. I keep his KDH Fire Department badge on my desk as a continuous inspiration.”

The grant to Colington VFD was the first grant awarded through the OBX First Responder Giving Program Fund. By funding equipment upgrades, the program helps local first responders maintain the tools they need to do their work safely and effectively.

“Our first responders take care of the Outer Banks every day. This fund is simply a way for Firehouse Boil —and our customers—to help take care of them,” said Sawin.

Looking ahead, Sawin plans to utilize the fund to continue making grants to first responder organizations throughout the Outer Banks. For departments like Colington VFD, this support is more than financial—it represents a partnership with the community, ensuring that local heroes are equipped to meet the challenges of modern emergency response.

“We’re trying something new this fall with Manns Harbor Volunteer Fire Department,” said Sawin. “At the Outer Banks Seafood Festival on October 17, we’ll turn our booth into a fundraiser for the department, with Manns Harbor first responders serving alongside us.”

The Outer Banks Community Foundation is proud to help facilitate this partnership, demonstrating how local philanthropy can make a direct difference in the safety and well-being of the Outer Banks community.

“I was never as brave as Dad, so this is one way I can do my part,” said Sawin. “I keep the insignia from the departments we support beside Dad’s badge on my desk. And because so many of our customers are first responders themselves, their generosity makes that connection even more meaningful—especially in the 25th year since 9/11.”

It has never been easier to create or contribute to a fund at the Outer Banks Community Foundation. For more information about creating or contributing to a fund, please visit OBCF.org or call (252) 423-3003.

For more information, please visit OBCF.org or call (252) 423-3003.

About the Outer Banks Community Foundation: The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to fostering philanthropy and supporting local causes. Through its charitable funds and grant programs, the Foundation strives to enrich the quality of life for residents of the Outer Banks.