One of the most devastating natural disasters in the country continues to impact millions and a group of local firefighters is stepping up to help.
"Just watching everything on TV, you feel like you're kind of helpless and you want to do something," said Milford resident Michelle Alicki.
So when Alicki heard Beacon Hose Company Number One in Beacon Falls was asking for donations to send to Texas for victims of Hurricane Harvey, she and her 7-year-old daughter knew what they had to do.
"If it were to happen to me, I would want someone to help me out too," said Alicki.
"We felt like we needed to do something, but we didn't know what. So we started throwing together an effort to get as many supplies as possible," said Firefighter and Asst. Secretary Michael McGee.
McGee, Captain Cal Brennan, Firefighter Tim Hanks, and Firefighter Ryan Caulfield headed down to Texas this morning and will drop off all the donations they receive to those in need.
The four have been in contact with Galena Park Fire Department just outside of Houston, and that's where they'll be heading. The firefighters say they're taking their own time off and using a personal vehicle and a fire department trailer to transport the items down. Because of the short notice, Caulfield says he's taking unpaid leave to make the trip.
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"They wanted to do this. This is not something we're dispatching them down there," said Kyle Brennan, a first responder with Beacon Hose Company Number One. He's also the brother of Cal Brennan, who will go down to Texas. "It really shows the true character of a town when you go outside of it to help other people in need. And I'm so proud of them, and I wish I could go too."
"It's what we do at this fire department. It's a small-town America type of idea, and we like to do what we can to benefit everybody else," said Caulfield.
The firefighters say they're looking for a variety of supplies to bring down to Texas.
"Bottled water is a big one. Nonperishable food, clothing - mostly socks and underwear, items for hygiene, baby formula, and you can't forget about the animals - we're also accepting cat and dog food," said Brennan.
Firefighters say several people have already donated along with some businesses, including the Walmart in Naugatuck and Penske Automotive.
For more ways to help the victims of Harvey, click here.
