The East Pierce Firefighters Benevolent Fund recently received substantial donations from Lowe’s Home Improvement and Urban Timber Coffee on Oct. 13.

The nonprofit Benevolent Fund organization is operated separately from East Pierce Fire and Rescue. Money donated to the Benevolent Fund is used to complete various community projects in Pierce County.

“It is my belief that teaming up with businesses from the community makes a greater impact on the end result and the changes we are able to make through our organization,” said Benevolent Fund Chair Hunter Chumbly.

Lowe’s donated $3,000 dollars in various materials and equipment to the Benevolent Fund to finance the wheelchair ramp that Lowe’s and the Benevolent fund built for Bonney Lake resident Claude Wirkus last August. Wirkus, who underwent his second leg amputation that month, could not leave his home without the ramp.

Urban Timber Coffee donated $620 to the fund as well. The money was raised from beer and wine sales from Urban Timber’s Sumner location.

“The benevolent fund does outreach to the community all year long,” said Chumbly. “Money raised in these fundraisers is used when community members or firefighters are in time of need.”