KINGSTON TWP. —Friday, Trucksville Volunteer Fire Assistant Chief Steve Derhammer’s eyes teared up as he talked about the donation drive to help Tennessee residents who have lost everything due to wildfires.
The wildfires that swept through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, earlier this week displace thousands of people, destroyed nearly 1,000 structures and 15,000 acres of property.
The fires are out, but the damage has been done, Derhammer said.
“It was a beautiful area,” he said wiping tears from his eyes.
The Trucksville Volunteer Fire and Rescue started collecting a variety of items on Friday. The items included paper towels, toilet paper, personal hygiene items, water, Gatorade and children’s toys.
Donations can be dropped off at the fire hall at 11 Carverton Rd., Trucksville, from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday to help the residents and firefighters in the effected area.
Saturday at noon two trucks and trailers will haul the donations 650 miles to the Tennessee communities, Derhammer said.
The Tennessee region holds a special place in his heart. Derhammer and his family have vacationed in the region around Dollywood for the past 22 years.
“It was so nice there,” he said. “The hospitality of people was great.”
The initiative to help the fire victims is “an opportunity to give back,” he said.
Derhammer called a fire department in Gatlinburg to see what items they needed and 12 hours later the donation drive was organized, Derhammer said.
“When the lady from their fire company called me back she could not believe a community so far away wanted to help,” he said.
News of the donation drive quickly spread after the Trucksville Volunteer Fire and Rescue posted information on Facebook, Derhammer said.
“Enterprise donated the use of a Ford F350 to pull a trailer, Harveys Lake Borough donated a truck and trailer, Cascade (Tissue Group) donated paper products and Pioneer Construction donated $290 worth of toys and a large amount of gift cards,” he said.
Derhammer said many residents have stopped in and dropped off a variety of hygiene items, pallets of water, Gatorade and fruit drinks.
Within the first hour, public donations filled six two-foot-square boxes.
“I hope to have two large trailers filled by noon on Saturday,” Derhammer said.
