TIFTON, GA - A Tifton woman is making sure that area firefighters stay hydrated this summer.
The 7th annual water and Gatorade drive for Tifton firefighters is currently underway.
Nicole Taylor organizes the drive each year.
She said her father used to be a firefighter, so she grew up in fire departments and understands the need for water and Gatorade.
According to Tifton firefighter Drew Berger, firefighters can lose a lot of water while they’re putting out fires, so it’s important to have a lot of it on standby.
Each morning, coolers are stocked with ice and water and loaded onto the fire trucks.
Last year, the drive collected just over 200 cases of water and Gatorade.
Taylor said the firefighters appreciate the support.
“The way that the community has come forward towards the firefighters and the way that first responders are being treated, it makes them feel that they are special to somebody,” Taylor said.
Berger said he enjoys seeing different residents dropping off them items. It even gives him the chance to meet some of them.
“It gives us the opportunity to talk with them and actually see them on a day-to-day basis, rather than the worst day of their life. Most of the time, we don’t get to talk to people, unless it’s an incident,” Berger said.
Those interested in dropping off water and Gatorade can do so at the following fire stations:
Tifton’s Main Station located at 403 Forrest Ave.
The West Station located at 60 Carpenter Rd.
The North Station located at 4117 GA Highway 125
This year’s drive will end on July 31st.
