Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) announced today that there is still time for volunteer firefighters to receive tuition reimbursement through the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY).

FASNY has developed the Higher Education Learning Plan (FASNY HELP) as an incentive for people to join New York’s volunteer fire service. This program will provide tuition reimbursement to student volunteers. The deadline to apply for the spring semester is Feb. 6.

“FASNY’s HELP program is the perfect opportunity for individuals to engage in community service and pay for their continuing education,” said Barclay. “Volunteer firefighters are in high demand all across the Central and Northern New York areas, and this program could help meet the demand while allowing individuals to give back to their community and obtain a quality education.”

The FASNY HELP program allows community college students to receive tuition reimbursement for up to 80 credit hours while serving as volunteer firefighters and maintaining their grades. According to FASNY, the goal of the program is to help recruit and retain volunteers to fill a shortage left by the loss of emergency volunteer workers over the years.

To apply, candidates must first complete their local fire department’s volunteer membership process and the Volunteer Fire Department Commitment form.

“Our emergency volunteer workers are the backbone of rural communities, and we must continue to help with the retention and recruitment of these volunteers by appealing to the younger generations who will hopefully continue to provide this valuable service to residents and taxpayers,” said Barclay.

To apply, visit http://www.fasny.com/index.php/resources/fasny-help/; email HELP@fasny.com, Attn: John D’Alessandro, Deputy Volunteer Programs Coordinator; or call FASNY toll free at (855) 367-6933.

The program was made possible through a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant awarded by the Department of Homeland Security.