How to Donate Used Bunker Gear
The protective clothing that firefighters use is known as bunker gear or turnout gear. This term generally includes items such as jackets, trousers, gloves and boots; in some cases, it may refer to protective equipment as well. After a few years of use, the bunker gear may start showing signs of wear, rendering it unfit for use by personnel actively involved in firefighting. It may be usable, however, in certain other situations such as training. Rather than disposing of used bunker gear, consider donating it.
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Instructions
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Check volunteer fire departments. Many counties have volunteer fire departments that conduct high school firefighter programs to impart firefighting skills to students. Find out if your county runs any such programs. Get in touch with the program coordinator and ask if it accepts used bunker gear.
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Contact the Florida State Firefighters' Association (see Resources). The association runs a bunker donation program. Call or email it to arrange to donate gear.
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Use the Internet. Put up information on online forums and networking sites of which you're a member. Give specific information about the condition of the gear and provide your contact information. Indicate very clearly that you'll need to meet with the person or organization interested in procuring the bunker gear from you. When you receive replies, verify the background of the organization with the Better Business Bureau before handing over your gear.
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Ask at bunker gear stores. Visit stores selling used bunker gear in your locality. Find out names and contact details of organizations that buy used gear from them. Get in touch with these organizations to find out if they accept used gear from donors.
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Contact your local fire department. Ask the firefighters if they know of places that need used bunker gear.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure your gear is in a condition fit for use by the agency that accepts it.
Find out if your local Boy Scouts program coordinator can make use of bunker gear for any of that group's activities.
A few bunker gear cleaning and repair services accept used bunker gear for recycling. They may even reuse parts of the old gear to make new gear. If your gear is too worn out to allow donation, you might be able to recycle it in this manner.
