CRANBERRY TWP — The Cranberry Township Community Chest’s 2015 Project of the Year is entering the final push of its campaign to raise more than $500,000.

The project is an effort to recruit and retain more volunteer firefighters in Butler County. That money will go toward buying two trailers that will be used in education, training and recruitment purposes.

The rest of the money will go toward establishing 18 scholarships at Butler County Community College. Anyone pledging two years of service to a local department will be eligible for a scholarship.

Bruce Mazzoni, treasurer of the Community Chest, said Wednesday more than $2,000 in donations came in last week alone. That brings the total raised to $350,612.

In addition to the fundraising, Mazzoni said the Community Chest is preparing to send out its last mailer to local residents and businesses, a mailer that will highlight the firefighter initiative and why it’s needed.

Mazzoni is hoping those mailers will solicit more interest and donations for the project, especially from larger corporations.

“Anyone with connections to their businesses and are aware of a corporate grant or foundation, if they can help us in applying for grants it would be very much appreciated,” Mazzoni said. “Nearly $100,000 is expected to be raised via corporate or foundation grants for this project.”

Anyone wishing to learn more about the project or to donate can visit www.ctcchest.org.

The most recent round of donations includes $500 from Allyson Mazzoni; $250 from Colleen and Brian Hroncich, Fred and Cece Peterson and Kevin and Beth Costello; $125 from Jim and Gretchen Moran, Roy and Patricia Creek and Mr. and Mrs. Randy Kreider; $100 from Harry and Jo Anne Hunter and Maureen T. Hammond; $50 from Charles Hawkins, Charles Turnblacer and Mark and Carolyn Cosco; $25 from O.M. Shatnagar and Keith Weyman; $20 from John and Donna Peffer; and $10 from Erica and Donald Dipyatic.