In its second year, the employee-led Lozier Community Grant program supported 50 nonprofit organizations across the country. Recipients were selected by employee committees in all five Lozier locations.  Over the next couple of months, the recipient organizations’ stories of impact will be shared on LozierLink.

or more than 60 years, the Scottsboro Jackson County Rescue Squad has worked to protect and help people in immediate danger. An all-volunteer effort, the group’s members spring into action in searching for lost or missing people, assisting in cave and cliff rescues and water-related incidents.

Reliability in search and rescue is paramount, says Eddie Tigue Captain of the Scottsboro Jackson County Rescue Squad, especially when “we do what nobody else does.”

The Rescue Squad has to be ready to respond to more than 5,000 marked and mapped caves and around 600 miles of shoreline on the Tennessee River. In the Walls of Jericho management area, a popular hike in Jackson County, the team has 100 square miles it provides support it in emergencies.

“Side by sides are really helpful for getting out people to the rescue site,” Tigue said. “The new truck with better towing capacity along with an extended cab helps us respond to calls faster and our equipment is more reliable.”

Its second year receiving a Lozier Community Grant, the rescue squad acquired and outfitted their newest truck bringing reliability and additional hauling capacity to its fleet. Transporting its team and side by sides for quick response is key in emergencies. The group started with old military surplus vehicles and has slowly transitioned away from those and older government fleet vehicles.

“When you get a community grant through an organization, they know the needs of the community. They know that that funding can go to help the people of our local community. I really think that’s a really great thing. I wish more organizations did that,” Tigue said.

For details on the Scottsboro Jackson County Rescue Squad mission, check out its website. To learn more about the Lozier Community Grant program, click here.