CRANBERRY TWP — The Cranberry Township Community Chest this week received $1,220 in donations for the 2015 Project of the Year.

That brings the total raised to $328,842.

The project of the year is a $500,000 initiative to recruit and retain more volunteer firefighters in Butler County. Fundraising has been ongoing since the beginning of July when the project kicked off at Cranberry Township’s Community Days celebration.

Money raised will buy a $130,000 emergency trailer that will be used for training and recruitment purposes. Every fire department in the county will be eligible to use the trailer.

The rest of the money will go to establishing 20 scholarships at the Butler County Community College. Anyone who pledges two years of service to a volunteer fire department will be eligible for the scholarship.

Residents and businesses haven’t been showing their support for the project just by donating. More than 20 people between the ages of 14 and 87 helped stuff more than 20,000 envelopes with promotional fliers for the firefighter initiative, according to Bruce Mazzoni, treasurer of the Community Chest.

While the project is always in need of volunteers, Mazzoni said he’s pleased with the level of community support.

“We want to thank all our donors who have helped us obtain this level of support, but we still have a long way to go and are hoping other residents and businesses will step up and help with the project,” he said. “This is a project that impacts every resident and business in Butler County.”

Mazzoni said the Community Chest also is still looking for “ambassadors” who might be able to get donations from their business or place of employment. The most recent donations include a $1,200 gift from an anonymous donor and $20 from Edward and Kathryn Porter. Anyone interested in helping or donating can visit www.ctcchest.org.