Help Get NJSAR Back on the Road

For over 75 years, New Jersey Search and Rescue (NJSAR) has been showing up when others are lost—literally. We’re an all-volunteer team of highly trained searchers, mountain rescue techs, medics, and incident managers, on call 24/7 to help locate and assist missing or injured people across New Jersey and beyond. We respond in all weather, at all hours, and in some of the most challenging terrain the region has to offer. And we do it all without pay, funding, or fanfare—just a commitment to saving lives.

But here’s the not-so-secret truth: we’ve been limping along in the same emergency response vehicle for over a decade and a half, and it’s seen better days. Way better. While we’re proud of the mileage it’s logged in the name of service, the breakdowns have become all too frequent—so much so that some of our members have taken to calling it “The Scenic Stopper.” We’ve literally been stranded mid-mission. You haven’t truly experienced stress until you’re trying to jumpstart a rescue vehicle… in the woods… at midnight… during a blizzard.

It’s time to retire our beloved (and beleaguered) truck and replace it with a reliable, rugged, and fully equipped emergency response vehicle. One that can handle off-road terrain, carry essential rescue equipment, support medical response, and—most importantly—actually get us to the people who need us without calling a tow truck first.

We’re aiming to raise $75,000 to make this happen. That funding will go toward purchasing and outfitting a rescue vehicle that meets the specialized demands of our work—whether it’s a search in the mountains, a midnight response, or a mutual aid mission with other agencies.

Why should you care? Because when someone goes missing—whether it’s a lost hiker, a child with autism, an elderly adult, or someone in crisis—we are the ones who get the call. And when we’re needed, we need to be ready. That starts with a vehicle that actually… runs.

We don’t receive government funding. We don’t charge for our services. We are completely volunteer-staffed and community-supported. That means every donation you give goes directly to helping us do our jobs faster, safer, and more effectively. You're not just donating to a vehicle—you’re investing in the ability to save lives.

If you’ve ever wondered how to support local heroes without rappelling down a cliff yourself—this is it. Your gift today will help ensure that when someone is in distress, NJSAR gets there fast, ready, and fully equipped (not stalled at mile marker zero).

Let’s say goodbye to the Scenic Stopper, and hello to a new era of dependable response.

Donate today—because rescue doesn’t wait, and neither should we.

All donations are tax-deductible. Learn more about our mission at njsar.org.

NJSAR Vehicle Fundraiser

Help Us Obtain a Reliable Rescue Vehicle

Team Members