After quitting his job as a sound engineer and cashing in his retirement, volunteer firefighter Lt. Duane McKee is “all in” with his plan of establishing a nonprofit coffeehouse to raise awareness for the Anne Arundel County volunteer fire system, including his home station, Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company.
McKee plans to raise enough money to promote the need for new volunteer firefighters. He plans to use commercials, radio ads and other promotional avenues. "If this model proves successful we will copy and paste in neighboring counties while doing the same thing," he said.
Dubbed Second Alarm Brewhouse, McKee envisions opening a nonprofit coffee shop by day and, in the future, a pub by night.
"Our sole mission is to provide awareness to volunteer fire fighting," he said. Other entities, such as the military, spend millions each year to promote their agenda, whereas funding for volunteer fire stations is non-existent.