Sandhills State Bank donates $5,000 to Wauneta Fire Department as part of $100,000 Wildfire Relief Campaign

Sandhills State Bank has donated $5,000 to the Wauneta Fire Department in recognition of the department’s response during the historic fires of spring 2026. The donation is one of 20 awards totaling $100,000 being distributed to fire departments across Western Nebraska, funded in part through a matching grant from FHLBank Topeka’s Community Assistance Recovery Effort (CARE) Program.
Following the fires, Sandhills State Bank surveyed local communities to determine where relief was most needed. Fire departments emerged as a critical gap as recovery resources for departments are scarce. Specifically, after large-scale events, such as this spring’s fires, where equipment is pushed to unprecedented use and funds are potentially depleted at an unexpected rate. The Wauneta Fire Department plans to use the recently donated funds to outfit a new truck as a strike truck to take for mutual aid.
Sandhills State Bank’s 20 donations spanning the Nebraska Sandhills, reflect the widespread impact of the fires and the bank’s commitment to the rural communities it serves.
About Sandhills State Bank: Sandhills State Bank is a locally owned community bank with 10 branches across Western Nebraska. Founded in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills, the bank’s mission is to build lasting relationships through local involvement, local decision-making, and local investment. For more information, visit sandhills.bank.