Local volunteer firefighters get emergency drinking water
Published December 1, 2023; 3:41 p.m.

Sevier County Rescue Squad; image submitted

KNOXVILLE – Anheuser-Busch and Eagle Distributing Company, in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), provided nearly 18,500 cans of emergency drinking water this week to help local volunteer firefighters at Bean Station Volunteer Fire Department, Medford Volunteer Fire Department, Morristown Rescue Squad, North Tazewell Volunteer Fire Department, Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department, Sevier County Rescue Squad, and Treadway Volunteer Fire Department.

This effort is part of Anheuser-Busch’s commitment to deliver more than 2.5 million cans – more than ever before – to volunteer fire departments across the country in support of disaster preparedness and relief efforts this year. Now in the fifth year of this initiative, the brewer and its wholesaler partners are expanding their reach to demonstrate their shared dedication to the communities they serve, as well as their deep appreciation for the first responders who are keeping their communities safe.

More than two-thirds of America’s firefighters are volunteers, often serving on the frontlines in their local communities with limited resources and staffing. These first responders rely on clean drinking water to stay hydrated in times of need, yet their departments often lack the budget necessary to supply. This emergency drinking water donation is an essential resource to help prepare our local heroes ahead of time, rather than wait for disaster to strike.

As the primary distributor of Anheuser-Busch products in East Tennessee, Eagle Distributing Company is proud to support local volunteer firefighters who risk their lives to protect the communities where they live and work. They said, “We believe volunteer firefighters, including those in East Tennessee, are unsung heroes in our communities. We take immense pride in standing behind these incredible individuals who consistently show up for us when we need them the most.”

Anheuser-Busch has a longstanding history of providing support for disaster relief and preparedness, including through its flagship emergency drinking water program and partnership with the American Red Cross dating back to 1906. Since launching this collaboration with the NVFC and its wholesaler partners in 2019, the brewer has donated more than 6.4 million cans of clean, safe drinking water to more than 960 volunteer fire departments across 49 states.

This donation of emergency drinking water was sourced from Anheuser-Busch’s brewery in Cartersville, Georgia which periodically pauses beer production to can clean, safe drinking water in support of disaster relief and preparedness efforts nationwide.

More information can be found at www.nvfc.org/water.