By Krystal Moralee

A community’s strength comes from all of its individual threads working together to form something durable. It’s found in classrooms where students are learning what it means to serve others in moments of crisis, in the firefighters who respond when emergencies happen, and in those who invest in the people and programs that help keep their community safe and prepared for the future.

Through the Community Foundation of St. Clair County and its Marysville Community Fund, those pieces came together in a visible way at the end of last year when several Marysville organizations received grant support. Among the recipients was the Marysville Fire Department, which used its grant to purchase a new battery-powered cut-off saw.

“When we were reviewing our grantees, we voted as a group to select the fire department,” said Lesley Murphy, principal/director for St. Clair County RESA and a member of both the Marysville Community Fund Committee and the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “It benefits the community, and the students might also get to learn about and use the tool.”

That connection between education and public safety is already taking shape through the new Law and Public Safety Program at St. Clair County TEC, which launched in September and introduces students to careers in firefighting, law enforcement, emergency medical services, corrections, and dispatch. The program gives students hands-on experience with real emergency response tools and scenarios while helping them earn certifications in things like CPR, first aid, and dispatching.

“It’s going fantastic,” Murphy said.

The program is led by two instructors with firsthand experience in the field: former DNR officer Robert Watson and firefighter Ryan Simons.

“Between the two of them, they’re able to provide expertise in all things law and public safety to the students,” Murphy said. “We’re very proud of the work we do, and we could not do the work we do without community partnerships like the Marysville Fire Department.”

That partnership helps students see how classroom learning translates directly into service within their own communities. Next year, many students will begin workplace learning opportunities throughout St. Clair County, continuing to build relationships with the agencies already serving local residents.

For the Marysville Fire Department, the new cut-off saw is more than just a piece of equipment. Fire Chief Matt Reeves said the department applied for the grant to replace a heavy gas-powered K-12 saw with a lighter, more reliable battery-powered system. The new saw can cut through materials like concrete and metal during structure fires, industrial accidents, rescues, and collapse situations where firefighters need to quickly gain access or ventilate a building. Marysville has a lot of industrial areas, he said, so it’s an essential piece of equipment.

Reeves said they applied for the grant early last year and had the saw in service by the end of December. The department includes 11 full-time firefighters, six cross-trained police officers, and approximately nine part-time members, and they provide automatic mutual aid to Port Huron, St. Clair, and Kimball, making reliable equipment especially important across the region.

“It’s hard to ask for money,” Reeves said. “So, it is really nice when we can get a grant like this. We just greatly appreciate all of the help they give us. They’ve really been amazing in helping us out.”

The Marysville Community Fund itself was established to support charitable projects and programs that strengthen the city. Beginning with a $25,000 donation from DTE Energy, the fund has continued to grow through support from local businesses, organizations, and residents who want to invest in their hometown. Managed through the Community Foundation and guided by a committee of Marysville residents, the fund reflects a shared commitment to building a stronger future together.

The impact of those investments can be seen in practice today in students preparing for careers in public safety, first responders equipped with better tools to protect residents, and community members stepping forward to support both.

Residents and businesses interested in supporting the Marysville community can contribute to the Marysville Community Fund by visiting https://stclairfoundation.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1428. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps strengthen the people, programs, and partnerships that will define Marysville in a lasting way.