If each Lansford resident would set aside $25 about the cost of a couple of large pizzas with sodas the all-volunteer American Fire Co. No 1 could make ends meet.

But 2nd Assistant Chief Joe Greco is grateful for any financial help at all.He told of a woman who sends one dollar every year in response to the fire company's donation drive, with a note that she is sorry she can't afford more."To me, that means more than the person who doesn't give at all," he said.It takes the company about $45,000 a year to operate - to heat and maintain their equipment and their aging fire station at 23 E. Patterson St., Greco said.Mailers were sent to residents last week, asking for donations."Our volunteer firefighters are on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, always ready to spring into action at a moment's notice top protect life and property," the mailer states. "When the call comes in, we leave our jobs and our families to assist you in your emergency. Our members spend countless hours on a daily basis working to ensure that we are ready to respond. We dedicate ourselves to providing fire protection to the Borough of Lansford and all its citizens, property owners and businesses."In 2010, the volunteers responded to 133 calls, ranging from house fires to car accidents to helping ambulance crews.Volunteers logged 5,405 man-hours, including 719 responding to calls; 1,572 in training, 472 in community service, 888 in administrative duties and 1,754 in fund raising.In additiion to their annual fund drive, the volunteers raise money by manning booths at the Summit Hill Stay-At-Home Festival, an annual chicken wing sale, holding an Operation Santa Claus and through a booth at the annual Miners Festival Picnic.