Gainesville firefighters took off their boots this weekend to fill them with more than $21,000 in cash.
Gainesville Fire Rescue’s Fill the Boot campaign raised $22,333.44 this year for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, surpassing GFR’s $21,000 goal and last year’s $20,000, said Michael Cowart, the GFR operations chief. Gainesville firefighters were at four local Publix stores collecting money Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help find a cure for muscular dystrophy, a disease that causes progressive muscle weakness.
“It’s just a phenomenal thing to be a part of that and to be able to kind of see the people that you’re impacting,” Cowart said.
GFR has been stuffing cash into boots for 40 years, and this Labor Day weekend was no different.
Gainesville resident Wesley Lewis said he has contributed to the drive in past years because he likes seeing his firefighters around the community — and on his way into the grocery store.
“It’s cool to see that our firefighters who are citizen servants are taking the time out of their daily life and daily routines to help out these families,” the 21-year-old said.
Lewis applauded the efforts of firefighters and donors alike for raising the funds.
“That shows how many people came together and were willing to do better than what was expected and raise the bar,” he said. “Hopefully next time they’ll do the same thing.”
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Gainesville firefighters Josh Rodgers (left), Adam Whitehead (middle) and Terry McCarthy (right) stand with their cash-stuffed boots outside of Publix, located at 1302 N Main St. The Fill the Boot campaign raised $22,333.44 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which works to find a cure for muscular dystrophy, a disease that causes progressive muscle weakness.
