CRANBERRY TWP — Nearly $2,000 in donations came in to the Cranberry Township Community Chest this week as residents and businesses continued to support CTCC’s 2015 Project of the Year.

The project is a countywide $500,000 initiative aimed at recruiting and retaining more volunteer firefighters. The most recent round of donations brings the total amount raised to $284,952.

Bruce Mazzoni, treasurer of the community chest, said he’s pleased with the pace of fundraising, adding that there’s been a large uptick in donations in recent weeks.

“I appreciate all the support of our donors and I appreciate the efforts of Haine Middle School Boosters who gave $600 to support the firefighter initiative,” he said.

“It is this level of community involvement that will make this project successful and have meaningful efforts in future recruitment.”

The most recent list of donors also includes:

Rent a Space North, $250; the Bossong family, $125; Tom and Barb McCarthy, $125;

Paracca Flooring, $100; Walter and Glenda Ziatek, $100; Ed and Lorraine Sarver, $100; Fred and Rita McClaine, $100; Annette McPeek, $100; Gloria Secchi, $100;

Daniel C. Przybylek, $50; William E. Bullis, $50; Joel and Gerry Zygmunt, $50; Amy Vogelsberg, $50; anonymous, $25, and Ed and Sandy McGinnis, $10.

That money will go toward buying a $130,000 emergency trailer for recruitment, educational and training purposes, a vehicle that will be shared by all fire departments in the county.

The remaining money will go toward establishing 20 scholarships at the Butler County Community College.

Anyone who pledges two years of service to a fire department will be eligible to receive a scholarship.