Four thousand T-shirts or $30,000 in donations — whichever comes first — will supply a wounded veteran a vehicle.

On Aug. 19, DeKalb Firefighters Union, Local 1236, began selling custom T-shirts for $15 and taking donations for the Associated Firefighters of Illinois Warrior Program. The program supplies wounded veterans with a vehicle, and all contributions are tax deductible.

“It’s a great cause and we want to support them as much as we can,” said DeKalb Fire Chief Eric Hicks.

Local 1236 has raised about $7,500 from more than 600 T-shirt sales and online donations. Donations and T-shirt sales can be made online, or by visiting DeKalb Fire Station One, 700 Pine St. All money raised is going toward the purchase of the vehicle.

Noah Millard, DeKalb firefighter and paramedic and union secretary, said the idea to bring the Warrior Program to DeKalb came up about a year ago.

The DeKalb County Veterans Assistance Commission, 2500 N. Annie Glidden Road, is working with DeKalb Firefighters Union Local 1236 to find a local wounded veteran in need of a vehicle.

“We’re going through the VA because they get different connections that obviously we don’t have,” Millard said.

Millard hopes to have the vehicle purchased locally.

“Our group of guys are very excited to be doing this, to give back to a veteran,” Millard said. “This is what we’re all about as an organization.”