LAWRENCE TWP. – The North Lawrence Fire Department is restarting its popular online fundraising raffles after a new state law was approved to legalize the process.
The Fire Department announced in a news release it is reopening raffle fundraisers on Nov. 26.
“These raffles are absolutely essential to our operations, … (allowing) us to purchase lifesaving equipment, provide official training to firefighters, emergency medic technicians and paramedics, and help significantly to offset operational costs,” the agency said via the release. “They also reduce the financial burden on our local taxpayers, ensuring that our communities receive high-quality emergency services without additional financial strain.”
In September, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office sent cease-and-desist letters to many organizations to halt online ticket sales citing the legality of the fundraising efforts. Online raffles had been used for years by groups wanting to raise money for operations, building upgrades, equipment and vehicles.
North Lawrence and the Wintersville Fire Department then sought assistance from Ohio legislators to help author and pass legislation to allow the online fundraising for nonprofit agencies.
House Bill 476 was passed Nov. 19 permitting the raffles to continue.
“We want to thank our supporters, community members and those who reached out to state lawmakers and the attorney general’s office,” the department said. “Your patience, understanding and advocacy have made a tremendous difference.”
Since September 2024, North Lawrence had been purchasing goods — including high-priced items like vacations and vehicles — at cost and selling virtual tickets through an ecommerce website. Live drawings were held each week via Facebook.
Items such as lawnmowers, gazebos, gift cards, restaurant dinners, tool and patio sets, vacation vouchers, chartered fishing trips, trucks and a new home had been raffled to generate money to upgrade the agency’s fire station at 4052 Alabama Ave. NW.
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Repository: North Lawrence Fire restarting online raffles thanks to new state law
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
