W hen the population of Lillian, Texas exploded from 3,000 to 15,000 in less than three years, the town's volunteer fire department found itself stretched to the limit. Calls to the station jumped from three per week to more than five a day, and the station's equipment, acquired second-hand a decade before, was falling apart under the strain.

"This grant has made all the difference," said Salmon. "We're putting the guys in safe gear to fight fires."

"Our guys were out there in coats with holes in them," said Fire Chief Tony Salmon.

The Lillian Fire Department had never applied for a grant before, but Salmon knew that they needed to find new sources of funding to keep up with the community's needs. When he saw an article in a fire fighter's publication about grant-writing services offered through the Center for Community Support (CCS) of Texas A&M University, Salmon jumped on the opportunity.

Not only has CCS support helped alleviate Lillian Fire Department's short-term needs, but working through the process has encouraged them to apply for more grants. Next year they will apply to a private foundation for a grant to buy extrication equipment ("jaws of life") and a new truck.

Asked if he had advice for others in similar shoes, Salmon doesn't hesitate. "Don't be afraid to ask for help," he advises. "That was the one thing that really made the difference. The research is the hardest part. With the Center for Community Support's help, we walked through the application like we'd done it 100 times."