CRANBERRY TWP — The Cranberry Township Community Chest’s 2015 Project of the Year received a dozen more donations in the past week totaling more than $1,500.

The project is a $500,000 initiative to recruit and retain more volunteer firefighters in Butler County. The most recent donations bring the total amount raised to $286,477.

Launched after the Community Days celebration in July, volunteers have been soliciting donations largely by word of mouth, although the Community Chest has undertaken two campaigns directed at residents and businesses.

Bruce Mazzoni, treasurer of the Community Chest, said that he continues to be pleased with the pace of fundraising.

“I’m pleased with the community-level response we’re getting for this project as we continue to educate on the importance of reversing the decline of volunteers,” he said.

“This project impacts every municipality, every business and every residence in Butler County.”

The most recent donations are from: Larry and Darcy Thompson, $500; Lawrence Kenney, $250; the Kovach family, $125; Kennedy Safety Partners, $100; Dean and Kathryn Helfer, $100; Kenmac Rentals and Sales, $100; Mary and Thomas Mion, $100; Laurie and Barry Pile, $50; Phil and Jan Rogers, $50; William and Janet Zinsmeister, $50; Bob and Terry Pearce, $50 and Randy and Lisa Notzen, $50.

Money from the firefighter fund will buy a $130,000 emergency trailer for training, recruitment and educational purposes.

The remaining money will go to establishing about 20 scholarships at the Butler County Community College. Those who pledge two years of service to a fire department will be eligible for a scholarship.

Mazzoni said he continues to search for corporate partnerships for the firefighter initiative, noting that the Community Chest is only slightly more than half way toward its fundraising goal.

Anyone interested in donating can visit the Community Chest website at www.ctcchest.org.