Local business donates workout equipment for first responders gym

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- First responders are expected to face situations that the average person would turn away from; and to do the work they do staying in shape is a priority. A local business noticed the need for equipment for the first responders training room and made a special donation to help out.

“We really saw that they were excited about exercise and really wanting to make sure that their police and firefighters were in tip-top shape. So we started doing the program with them and we found that they were lacking some equipment,” said Alainna Durfee, the Director of Marketing at The Fieldhouse.

Many Zanesville Police Officers and Firefighters take advantage of their personal training room in the old Times Recorder building, but the exercise room was lacking some of the needed training equipment. Due to budget constraints, the city wasn’t able to purchase new equipment for the gym. The Amicone family from The Fieldhouse heard of the need.

“So we are building a new gym and we have an excessive amount of equipment that we need to get rid of. So rather than, you know, trying to make a profit on it we’ve become very close with the fire department and the ZPD and we feel like this is our way to give back to them,” said Durfee.

The Fieldhouse donated the equipment to the new gym instead. Durfee said it was an easy decision especially since they design the training and testing programs for the department.

“It was kind of a no-brainer. We actually had just spoken to one of the fire chiefs just a few days before we announced that we were opening this new facility and it just kind of clicked. There was…it’s an exciting thing for us to do because we know that they will use it and they’ll appreciate it,” said Durfee. “Most recently we donated about 15 pieces of equipment. So it’s everything from some cardio to some selectorized strength training equipment.”

The first responders are grateful to have the equipment and said it’s a great, convenient way to get a workout in while they’re on the clock.

“We actually put together a fitness committee to get more equipment to use on-duty and it’s been difficult so it’s nice having community resources come together and donate for us things that we wouldn’t normally be able to purchase on our own,” said firefighter, Levi Vought.

The equipment The Fieldhouse donated was split between the main gym and the other two fire stations. Vought said both departments are excited to use the equipment.

“We want to thank The Fieldhouse and the Amicone family for donating this equipment.”