Did you know that Josephine County Search & Rescue receives no state funding?
The Sheriff's Office relies upon citizen donations and grants to keep the county's Search & Rescue program up and running. Friends of Josephine County Search & Rescue is the nonprofit organization that supports its financial needs.
Search & Rescue is an all-volunteer program that has grown from just a handful of people to a group of about 90 trained people and dogs. You may have seen them out in their bright orange uniforms. These volunteers are on-call 365 days a year and 24 hours a day.
Josephine County Search & Rescue averages about 50 missions each year, finding missing children, elders, hunters and hikers, often in harsh weather conditions and darkness. They carry the injured out of danger and find those who have succumbed to injury.
Search & Rescue volunteers support the Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, Grants Pass Police Department, Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and Oregon Department of Forestry in many of their tasks. This includes in-person notifications for wildfire evacuations, road closures, safety fairs and outdoor survival education.
Friends of Josephine County Search & Rescue is asking for your help. Your tax-deductible donation can be sent by check to 250 Tech Way, Grants Pass, OR 97526. You may also use PayPal. For more information about how to support this important volunteer group, visit "sar@josephinecounty.gov."
