Rescue-1 Benefit Shirt: Wear the Mission, Support the Cause

Wildfires scorching neighborhoods and woodlands.

Tornadoes leveling homes and businesses.

Hurricanes sending torrents of floodwaters down mountainsides.

Natural disasters strike with indiscriminate violence, often with little notice or time to prepare.

First responders race to the scene, always. They stay until the job is done. They do whatever it takes. It’s in their DNA.

It’s in ours, too. And the desire to help is a natural response we hear from many of Fire Department Coffee’s supporters.

That’s why — with the absolutely amazing partnership of Rosenbauer America — we can bring our disaster relief firetruck, Rescue-1, to the scene of natural disasters. We’re not there to put out fires or save stranded citizens. We’re there to support the first responders and community members in any way we can.

“Since we’ve been rolling this rig around, a lot of people reach out and ask how they can support that mission,” said FDC Director of Brand Relations Randy James.

Now there’s a way.

The Rescue-1 Benefit Shirt is a way to give back to on-the-scene first responders in a tangible, meaningful way. Every purchase directly funds the continued operation of Rescue-1, helping us deliver essential supplies and support to disaster zones across the country.

So if you’ve ever stared at the television or scrolled the headlines wondering how you can help during a disaster, this is it.

Wear the mission. Support the cause. 

Get the shirt.

What Rescue-1 Means & How You Can Support It

Randy James had the idea. Rosenbauer America saw his vision and joined in without hesitation.

One of the world’s leading fire apparatus manufacturers, Rosenbauer built Rescue-1 as a specialized disaster relief vehicle designed to support first responders and impacted communities in the wake of natural disasters.

Rescue-1 is a lifeline on wheels. It’s stocked with critical supplies like water, gloves, hats, blankets, clothing, and, of course, plenty of Fire Department Coffee. But that’s just the beginning.

The truck also brings power to the scene, with onboard electricity, a washer and dryer, and hot shower access. A rapid-deployable emergency shelter offers first responders a place to regroup, plan the next move, or just take a moment out of the elements.

Wherever it rolls, Rescue-1 is there to help first responders recharge and refuel so they can keep going strong.

We recently outfitted the truck with next-generation technology that turns Rescue-1 into a communications hub, enabling first responders to relay information even when radio and cell services are out.

When you purchase the Rescue-1 Benefit Shirt, that’s what you’re making possible. Every shirt we ship is giving us more resources to equip the truck with everything that can make life just easier for first responders, and sometimes community members, in the days and weeks that follow these disasters.

When you wear the shirt, you’re giving back. You’re spreading the word. You’re making a difference.

So far, we’ve brought the truck to support first responders after tornadoes in Clarksville, Tennessee; Greenfield, Iowa; and Janesville, Wisconsin. We’ve traveled to Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and to locations throughout Southern California when recent wildfires ravaged the region.

None of this would have been possible without Rosenbauer.

Rosenbauer didn’t just build the truck. They partnered with us in a way that went far beyond what we could have imagined. Their team stood behind Rescue-1 from day one, helping us logistically, operationally, and financially to ensure the truck could be a lasting part of our disaster relief efforts.

Even now, they continue to provide yearly maintenance, driver support, and equipment upgrades to keep Rescue-1 in top condition.

“There’s a lot of trust that’s been built. I’ll always be grateful for it,” Randy said. “They never gave us any expectations for what they were going to get out of it. They believed in the project, the need to serve communities and first responders affected by these disasters.”

We Can Always Do More

We never know when the next natural disaster will strike. But we know it’s coming. Sometime. Somewhere.

We know first responders will race to the scene. They’ll work day after day, tirelessly and selflessly. Along the way, they’ll need a little boost. A cup of coffee. A warm coat. A sincere “Thank you.” 

We’ll be there to give it to them.

We also know that our nation is a big one. It takes a lot to activate the team and get Rescue-1 from its base in the Midwest to much of the country. 

So we’re still dreaming.

Can you imagine a Rescue-2 on the East Coast? A Rescue-3 on the West Coast? How much faster could we get to the scene? How much more could we do to help?

These are big dreams, we know. But we’ve got a big team of Fire Dept. Coffee supporters all across the country. A big team with big hearts.

Let’s start here, with the Rescue-1 Benefit Shirt. Get yours today. Tell a friend — or buy one for them — and let’s see how big this dream can grow!