YOUNGSVILLE – The Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department is getting some good financial news.

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-Oil City, state Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren, and Vern Edmisten, chief of the Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department, said Monday that nearly $13,000 in unclaimed property has been returned to the Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department, with the help of the Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry.

“The Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department has protected local residents for more than a century, and it’s an honor to return this money to them,” Treasurer Garrity said. “This money will go right back into the community, helping the volunteers in Youngsville assist their community in times of need. I appreciate working with Sen. Hutchinson, Rep. Rapp and the Warren County Chamber to return these funds, and I encourage everyone to check our website to see if we have any money available for you to claim.”

The $12,830.99 returned to the Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department includes 14 individual properties ranging in value from $8.12 to $3,991.86. The oldest property dates back to 2005, while the most recent is from 2018. Properties returned include funds from stocks and dividends. How the funds are spent will be determined by the fire department.

“We want to thank Treasurer Garrity’s team and the Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry for the work they did to return this money back to the department,” Edmisten said. “We’ll use these funds to help our fire department be even better prepared to help the community. I encourage everyone to check to see if they have unclaimed property.”

“I am thrilled Treasury is returning this money back to the fire department,” Rep. Rapp said. “I know this money will go a long way in helping the department protect the community.”

The state Treasury Department is working to return more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property to its rightful owners, including more than $5 million owed to Warren County residents. More than one in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed unclaimed property, and the average claim is worth about $1,600.

“As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Treasurer Stacy Garrity to make Pennsylvania’s Unclaimed Property Program better, so we can get more funds back to their rightful owners all across the state,” Hutchinson said. “I’d encourage all Pennsylvanians–individuals and organizations alike–to take a moment and check if there’s any unclaimed money waiting for them in Harrisburg.”

Unclaimed property can include dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance policies, contents of forgotten safe deposit boxes and more. State law requires businesses to report unclaimed property to Treasury after three years of dormancy. Treasury keeps tangible unclaimed property for at least three years before it is auctioned. Auction proceeds are kept in perpetuity for owners to claim. Military decorations and memorabilia are never auctioned.

To learn more about unclaimed property or to search Treasury’s database to see if any money is available for you to claim, visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property.

Last year, WCCBI partnered with the Treasury Department on an unclaimed property clinic in an attempt to help guide area residents through the property claim process and is a resource for those who may have unclaimed money.

“It has been a great pleasure to work with the PA State Treasury and their staff to help get unclaimed property back to the Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department,” said John Papalia, Sr. vice president Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry. “These funds will be essential to the department’s continued success and for the safety of the community in which they serve. We truly appreciate the partnership we have with the State Treasury to help get these dollars back to the department. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Treasury Department to hold future unclaimed property events in our community and get vital resources back in the hands of our area businesses, organizations, and residents.”