Firefighters shed their boots for MDA
As Columbia County residents meander into businesses for charcoal, hotdogs and sunscreen for Labor Day celebrations, they will be greeted by plenty of firefighters holding boots.
Martinez firefighter Jason Thomas (right) gives RIchard Greene a sticker and thanks him for his donation in 2003. Firefighters will be out Labor Day weekend to collect money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
File Photo
The Martinez Fire Department will hold its annual Fill-the-Boot campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday outside several area business, including Wal-Mart and Kroger.
"We are going to try to have them all out there," said Martinez Fire Chief Doug Cooper.
Cooper said his department has participated in the Fill-the-Boot drive for more than 30 years. He hopes to top 2003's collection of $17,000 for the association.
"We have a lot of really good people in this community and they seem to contribute well," Cooper said.
All funds raised during the campaign are used to provide medical services to the Medical College of Georgia Hospital's MDA clinic, assist families in purchasing wheelchairs and leg braces, and to help fund a monthly support group at Walton Rehabilitation Hospital. A week-long summer camp for children also is funded.
Fill-the-Boot locations:
Bi-Lo, 4480 Columbia Road, Martinez
Food Lion, 365 South Belair Road, Martinez
Food Lion, 4098 Old Petersburg Road, Martinez
K mart, 3830 Washington Road, Martinez
Kroger, 4115 Columbia Road, Martinez
Kroger, 4335 Washington Road, Evans
Lowe's, 224 Bobby Jones Expressway, Martinez
Wal-Mart SuperCenter, 4471 Washington Road, Evans
Wal-Mart, 596 Bobby Jones Expressway, Martinez
Winn-Dixie, 4487 Columbia Road, Martinez
Winn-Dixie, 366 Fury's Ferry Road, Martinez