Firefighters’ Annual "Fill the Boot" Campaign Moves Online – The River City News

The annual presence of Covington firefighters in prominent intersections, holding boots and asking for donations, won't be seen this year.

But the firefighters are adapting.

The COVID-19 pandemic has moved the annual fund drive on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to the internet.

Fill the Boot raises funds for research into treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS, and neuromuscular diseases. Donations will also helpMDAs Frontline COVID-19 Emergency Fund to continue services for people living with neuromuscular diseases.

In the 66 years of Fill the Boot, firefighters across America have raised more than $500 million dollars for MDA, a news release said.

Covington Professional Firefighters Local 38 said in an announcement that it would not let the current pandemic stop it from reaching its own contribution goal on behalf of MDA.

"Just like the emergency runs we make every day, sometimes the situation demands you to improvise to achieve your goal and thats what we do, we adapt and overcome," the union said. "Thats just part of our everyday job and this year we are going to adapt and overcome for this great cause and tradition of Fill the Boot. But this year, we need your help more than ever as we will be holding a virtualFill the Boot campaign through social media and our web page."

The program started on August 4 and will continue "until donations stop coming in."

Local 38 said that it consistently collects between $15,000 and $25,000 each year for MDA and is in the top-two fire departments across Kentucky in total money raised for more than a decade.

To donate online, click here.

-Staff report

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Firefighters' Annual "Fill the Boot" Campaign Moves Online - The River City News