A group of both Duluth firefighters and Affinity Plus employees gather for a donation presentation.

Affinity Plus Credit Union donated a MultiForce Air Lifting Bag to allow firefighters to lift objects during rescue operations.

“Adding the MultiForce Air Lifting Bag to our toolkit will make rescue personnel faster, safer, and more versatile,” Assistant Chief Dennis Edwards said. “This equipment will be used in crash rescues as well as building collapse and trench rescue operations.”

Members of the Department showed how the equipment could be used by lifting one of the fire apparatuses brought to receive the check.

“We know this will be useful on several types of calls that we respond to,” Edwards said. “Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in emergency response calls where a person is pinned under a vehicle, or a car goes through a building. This equipment will allow us to be able to have the equipment needed to lift heavy objects quickly and to stabilize the situation so that we can provide the assistance needed to save lives.”

“Affinity Plus is committed to the Duluth community,” Affinity Plus manager Amanda Bruggman said. “We are so pleased to be able to support the Duluth Fire Department and all they do to keep us safe.”

Affinity Plus Credit Union is no stranger to making a difference in the Duluth Community. In 2019, the Credit Union donated Marine 1, a personal watercraft used in water emergencies.

“The Duluth Fire Department is lucky to have a partner like Affinity Plus Credit Union in our corner,” Edwards said. “They are always willing to step up to the plate when we ask them to help us save lives. We can’t say thank you enough knowing the impact that this equipment will have when we respond to emergencies.”

Based in St. Paul, Minn., Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, financial cooperative that puts people first above profits. Members of Affinity Plus receive maximum value through competitive rates, minimal fees, and unique, member-centric products and programs. Established in 1930, Affinity Plus has 30 branches located throughout Minnesota and is owned by more than 250,000 members. Affinity Plus has more than $4 billion in assets. Additional information is available at www.affinityplus.org or by calling (800) 322-7228.