Help Keep Rescue-1 Ready: Disaster Response Starts Here

Disaster relief doesn’t start when the phone rings.

It starts long before that — with preparation, planning, and the quiet work of making sure everything is ready when communities need help immediately.

January is a little different for the Fire Department Coffee Club and Fire Department Shirt Club. Instead of spotlighting a single fire department or foundation, we’re starting the year strong by supporting Rescue-1, our custom-built Rosenbauer America fire truck designed to provide relief in the wake of natural disasters.

Through the Fire Department Coffee Club ($2 from every bag purchase) and Fire Department Shirt Club ($5 from every shirt purchase), a portion of each subscription or one-time purchase in January will ensure that Rescue-1 is stocked, supplied, and ready for whatever comes next.

Rescue-1 in Action Throughout 2025

Rescue-1 responded to three major disasters across the country last year — each one different, each one demanding a rapid, adaptable response.

In California, wildfires stretched resources and personnel to their limits. Rescue-1 supported firefighters battling long shifts and extreme conditions, delivering coffee and supplies where morale and energy were running thin.

In Texas, catastrophic flooding left entire communities reeling. Rescue-1 deployed to multiple relief sites, serving first responders, volunteers and displaced families. FDC Founder and President Luke Schneider joined the response on the ground, helping lead a multi-day effort that reinforced what Rescue-1 was built for: showing up when the need is overwhelming.

And in Laurel County, Kentucky, an EF4 tornado changed lives forever. Rescue-1 rolled in to support firefighters and a grieving community facing unimaginable loss — not just for a day, but for as long as help was needed.

Each deployment looked different. The location changed. The challenges changed. But the purpose never did.

“The role of Rescue-1 is to help protect people's dignity when they feel they've lost everything important to them and to support first responders dealing with the unimaginable,” said Randy James, Director of Brand Relations at Fire Department Coffee. 

Rescue-1 is many things. A mobile coffee station. A morale boost. A logistical lifeline. 

When disaster strikes, it has to be ready to roll.

What Readiness Requires

Between deployments, the work doesn’t stop.

Disaster response means restocking and replenishing the essentials that matter when everything else is stripped away. January’s support helps ensure Rescue-1 is equipped with items that provide real, immediate relief on the ground, including:

• Blankets
• Socks and gloves
• Clothing
• Toiletries
• Portable lighting
• Hygiene equipment

• Expanded portable hot water shower capabilities

“These are the things people don’t always think about until they’re needed,” James said. “But when you’re standing in the aftermath of a disaster, they make a real difference. Readiness is about having them on hand before the next call comes in.”

Rescue-1 is home for now. But history tells us that won’t last.

Showing Your Support

This month’s Fire Department Shirt Club features a bold design that reflects what disaster response really looks like in the field.

The shirt comes in FDC red and features the Rescue-1 insignia on the left chest, paired with the words “Disaster Relief” and “Community Response.” Across the back, a horizontal Rescue-1 logo stretches shoulder to shoulder. The FDC pike pole logo appears on the right sleeve, tying it back to the mission that drives everything we do.

The Fire Department Coffee Club bag carries that same Rescue-1 insignia found on the front of the shirt, reinforcing this month’s focus on disaster response and preparedness.

This medium roast coffee is a premium blend of Ugandan and Nicaraguan beans with notes of orange, milk chocolate, and nutmeg. It's crafted to fuel those early mornings, long days, and the dedicated individuals who consistently show up when others are in need.

Together, the shirt and coffee represent more than a monthly delivery. They help ensure Rescue-1 stays ready — from replenishing essential gear to supporting the practical needs that matter most in the aftermath of a disaster.

Every disaster response begins the same way — with a call for help.

What happens next depends on preparation.

January is your invitation to strengthen our disaster relief efforts and help ensure that when the next call comes in, we’re ready to answer it.

Because when disaster strikes, Rescue-1 rolls.