Sixth Battalion Annual “Touch-A-Truck” is on Saturday, April 26, 2025

Responding to the urgent need to bolster the ranks of volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service members, Nassau County’s Sixth Battalion, which includes the Massapequa FD, is pleased to announce its third annual “Touch-A-Truck” recruitment and community awareness event. This popular event will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at East Meadow High School, 101 Carman Avenue in East Meadow.

“Touch-A-Truck” is free and is an excellent opportunity for all residents aged 18 and up to become an integral part of our local volunteer fire departments and ambulance squads. It's a chance to learn more about the crucial roles these public safety agencies play in keeping our communities safe. And of course, kids of all ages are welcome to come and see the different types of emergency apparatus on display and get to know the women who give their time to providing this essential service.

“Touch-A-Truck” is part of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York’s (FASNY) RecruitNY Weekend (April 26-27, 2025) to address the decreased membership and increased requests for service, which has created a need for additional members in volunteer fire departments across New York State, and Nassau County. To continue to provide the optimal level of fire and emergency medical services for its residents, the volunteer fire and EMS services in the Sixth Battalion need to boost its ranks. Following “Touch-A-Truck,” each of the ten departments within the Sixth Battalion will host their recruitment events on Sunday, April 27, 2025, to further strengthen outreach efforts at a local level.

“Recruitment and retention are critical to the future of the volunteer fire service,” explains Chief Matt Giudice of the Levittown Fire Department, who also serves as the Sixth Battalion Chairperson. “By working together as a battalion, we amplify our outreach and strengthen the pipeline of dedicated individuals ready to serve their communities. ‘Touch-A-Truck’ is a testament to the power of unity and collaboration.”

Volunteer fire officials note that aside from the personal rewards of volunteering, there are numerous additional benefits, including local property-tax exemptions and state-income-tax advantages, scholarships for full- and part-time students attending Nassau Community College, free training and health checkups, and a length-of-service award program, which provides a monthly stipend based on years of volunteer service. The personal rewards of volunteering, such as the sense of accomplishment and the opportunity to make a real difference in your community, are truly invaluable. Many volunteer fire and emergency medical service members use the training and experience they’ve gained to transition to professional, paid careers in the emergency services field, such as fire/rescue, law enforcement, and medicine.

The Sixth Battalion consists of ten volunteer fire departments— Bellmore, East Meadow, Levittown, Massapequa, Merrick, North Bellmore, North Massapequa, North Merrick, Seaford, and Wantagh, along with the support from the Wantagh-Levittown and Bellmore-Merrick volunteer ambulance corps, and the Office of the Nassau County Fire Marshal.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities in your community visit: https://www.nassausbravest.com