Outdoorsman Marketplace raises thousands for fire hall expansion

MILLVILLE, Del. – Hundreds of Sussex County community members came out to support the Millville Volunteer Fire Company at their inaugural Outdoorsman Marketplace Saturday.

The event was created as a way to help the volunteer fire company raise some money.

All people had to do was pay a few bucks to get in, and from there they could enjoy everything the marketplace had to offer. Everything from wildfowl carvings, to hot sauce, to something to hang on the wall to honor the stars and stripes.

The money raised will allow the fire company to consider the two following options, either expanding their current facility, or investing in a brand new one altogether.

“We knew that we needed to come up with different ways to help pay for this fire house, and we started coming up with ideas, and this one came about, and the community got behind us,” said Gregory Hocker, the chair of fundraising for Millville Fire Company.

A committee has been meeting for about six months, and eventually they will present two proposals for the department to move forward.

But for now, the community is clearly showing their outpouring of support.

“The fire hall, firemen, EMT, all these emergency services, all your emergency responders, they help you when you’re at your worst. So it’s good to come out and support them when they need you,” said a promoter for the event, Rich King.

In addition to funding, the department is also looking for new volunteers.

If you are interested in volunteering you can either stop by the fire hall, or give them a call at 302-539-7557.