City Receives Specialized High Water Rescue Vehicle

Jim Shubert and his wife Linda made their home on Marco Island about one year before Hurricane Irma made its impact on the island. As such he is no stranger to the damage which can be inflicted upon a community due to the wrath of a hurricane or tropical event.

With the effects of Hurricane Irma and Ian fresh on his mind, he reached out to discover what assistance Marco Fire and Rescue could use during a hurricane. Chief Chris Byrne spoke to Schubert about the need to rescue residents stranded in homes due to rising storm waters and the inability to reach them because of the limitations of their standard vehicles. Chief Byrne first looked at surplus military vehicles, which could serve as an intermediate solution, but the cost of maintenance and unreliability would present issues.

Enter the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF). Sinise, most recognizable as double amputee Lt. Dan from “Forrest Gump,” started the foundation in 2011 to support military veterans and first responders. Shubert is a Board Member and Treasurer for the Foundation and well versed in the help GSF provides for first responders in need communities.

Need and provider came together on Friday, January 27th when the Foundation’s First Responders Outreach Program donated a specialized high water rescue vehicle to the City of Marco. The First Responders Outreach Program aims to help provide resources and critical funding for emergency relief, training and essential equipment. Shubert presented the new vehicle to city officials as a large crowd gathered round. “If through our work we can provide more better days ahead than the worse, we’ve accomplished our mission,” said Shubert. Also in attendance was Board member and Retired U.S. Ambassador Robert Pence; Donna Palmer, Executive Director of the Foundation; Cristin Bartter, Vice President of Marketing Communications along with various support staff. Approximately 70 staff members enjoyed a lunch provided by Panera Bread, a corporate sponsor of the Gary Sinise Foundation.

The cost of freedom on military members as well as their families is not something that has been lost on Sinise and Shubert. Sinise began supporting military veterans in the 1980s and 1990s due to having family members that were veterans. He turned to his love of music to create the Lt. Dan Band which tours here and overseas to help raise awareness for veterans issues and raise necessary funds for veterans, first responders and their families. Shubert served as a combat medic in the United State Army in Vietnam and after returning home, pursued higher education degrees which included an MBA and a master’s in social work. His successes along the way allow him to pursue philanthropic endeavors and contribute time, treasure and talent to help the men and women in uniform.

The City of Marco wasn’t the only beneficiary of The Sinise Foundation’s generosity. A total of $300,000 in grants was given to first responders throughout Southwest Florida during First Responders Appreciation Day in Fort Myers on January 29th. It was a way to honor those first responders for their work and commitment to the community during Hurricane Ian. Learn more about the Gary Sinise Foundation as well as how you can contribute to the important work they are doing by visiting www.garysiniesefoundation.org.