The Turkey Volunteer Fire Department is selling tickets for its first annual Sportsman’s Raffle, a live fundraiser featuring cash and firearm prizes to help fund the department’s growing equipment needs.
The drawing will be held live on the department’s Facebook page Tuesday, Aug. 11. The grand prize is $1,000 cash, along with nine additional prizes that include three rifles, three handguns and three shotguns.
Davis Powell, who is helping organize the fundraiser, said all proceeds will support the department as it prepares for the arrival of a new fire engine, expected in May 2027.
Powell, who has organized similar fundraisers for nearly a decade, said this marks the first time Turkey’s volunteer fire department has hosted a raffle of this kind.
“We’ve got a good benefit where that money over the last 10 years has probably doubled due to growth and new businesses and all, but the cost of equipment and fire trucks basically quadrupled since 2020,” Powell said.
He pointed out that the new engine will include updated equipment and technology, but fundraising will likely remain necessary in the coming years as costs continue to rise.
“This will probably be one of many fundraisers we’ll have to do to make sure the department stays up to date with better technology and more efficient equipment,” the volunteer firefighter attested.
Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased online through TicketLeap by searching for the Turkey Volunteer Fire Department’s First Annual Sportsman’s Raffle. Tickets are also available in person at Carolina Gun Brokers, 175 Faison Hwy. in Clinton.
Sales will remain open until noon Aug. 11, giving department volunteers time to finalize entries before the drawing begins around 2 p.m.
The raffle will be streamed live on the Turkey Volunteer Fire Department’s Facebook page, allowing participants to watch each winning ticket drawn in real time. Those who purchase tickets online will receive their assigned ticket numbers by email. Before the drawing, the department will also publish a complete list of ticket numbers on its social.
Powell said additional prizes will be added if ticket sales exceed expectations.
“If we sell over 1,000 tickets, for every 100 tickets over that, we’ll add another firearm as a prize,” he said. “In theory, for every $2,000 extra we sell, we’ll give about $500 back as another prize.”
Winners who prefer not to accept a firearm may instead receive a cash payout based on a percentage of the firearm’s value.
Complete raffle rules are available through TicketLeap and on the Turkey Volunteer Fire Department’s page. The department also posts a fire safety tip each Tuesday, and every raffle ticket includes a fire safety message to help promote community risk reduction.
Beyond purchasing tickets, Powell said community members can support the department by volunteering.
“They don’t necessarily have to fight fires,” he said. “Some people can come on and be good at driving trucks and pumping. If they don’t feel like they want to be an interior firefighter, they can volunteer and drive an apparatus.”
Powell noted that volunteer firefighters receive certification training at no cost, with all training and class fees covered through the fire service.
“There are a lot of ways people can support the Turkey Volunteer Fire Department,” Powell said.