IDER, Ala. — The Ider Rescue Squad responded to questions from residents at a meeting last week regarding its fundraising efforts and current emergency response capabilities, saying a lack of available volunteers has significantly reduced the services it can provide.

Community members raised concerns about why the organization continues to hold fundraisers — including its annual fireworks sales — despite not responding to as many emergency calls in recent years.

“For the Fourth, they were set up selling fireworks, raising money for what reason?” Ider resident Kathleen Shaw said during the meeting. “They have not responded to calls in seven-plus years, if not more. Where is all this money going that they’re getting from the community?”

Daniel Wooten, president of the Ider Rescue Squad Board of Directors, said the organization has scaled back its operations because of an ongoing shortage of volunteers.

“Here recently, we’ve had to step down to a search-and-rescue response due to the fact that a lot of volunteers are not available anymore,” Wooten said. “This isn’t a problem we’re only having — it’s something organizations everywhere are dealing with.”

Wooten said fundraising remains essential to keeping the rescue squad operational. He explained that donations help cover monthly operating expenses, and the organization’s finances are reviewed each year by an independent auditor. He added that the rescue squad recently received a clean review from its certified public accountant.

Rescue squad leaders stressed that the organization’s greatest challenge is finding enough volunteers, not raising money.

“No matter how you look at it, volunteer numbers are down,” said Danny Butler, first vice president of the Alabama Association of Rescue Squads. “We all want to volunteer and do our part, but people just don’t have the time anymore.”

Wooten said the rescue squad hopes to expand its emergency response capabilities in the future but will need more volunteers and continued community support to do so. He encouraged residents interested in serving their community to consider joining the organization.