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<p>KINGSTON TWP. &#8212;Friday, Trucksville Volunteer Fire Assistant Chief Steve Derhammer&#8217;s eyes teared up as he talked about the donation drive to help Tennessee residents who have lost everything due to wildfires.</p><p>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.</p><p>The fires are out, but the damage has been done, Derhammer said.</p><p>&#8220;It was a beautiful area,&#8221; he said wiping tears from his eyes.</p><p>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&#8217;s toys.</p><p>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.</p><p>Saturday at noon two trucks and trailers will haul the donations 650 miles to the Tennessee communities, Derhammer said.</p><p>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.</p><p>&#8220;It was so nice there,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The hospitality of people was great.&#8221;</p><p>The initiative to help the fire victims is &#8220;an opportunity to give back,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Derhammer called a fire department in Gatlinburg to see what items they needed and 12 hours later the donation drive was organized, Derhammer said.</p><p>&#8220;When the lady from their fire company called me back she could not believe a community so far away wanted to help,&#8221; he said.</p><p>News of the donation drive quickly spread after the Trucksville Volunteer Fire and Rescue posted information on Facebook, Derhammer said.</p><p>&#8220;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,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Derhammer said many residents have stopped in and dropped off a variety of hygiene items, pallets of water, Gatorade and fruit drinks.</p><p>Within the first hour, public donations filled six two-foot-square boxes.</p><p>&#8220;I hope to have two large trailers filled by noon on Saturday,&#8221; Derhammer said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Hugh Gallagher of the Trucksville Volunteer Fire Department carries a donated case of bottled water to be added to the donations for the victims of the Tennessee wildfires Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_wildfires01.jpg</photo0><caption0>Hugh Gallagher of the Trucksville Volunteer Fire Department carries a donated case of bottled water to be added to the donations for the victims of the Tennessee wildfires Friday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_wildfires02.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Hugh Gallagher, left, and Justin Sherinsky of the Trucksville Volunteer Fire and Rescue assemble cardboard boxes to hold donations to be given to victims of the Tennessee wildfires Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_wildfires02.jpg</photo1><caption1>Hugh Gallagher, left, and Justin Sherinsky of the Trucksville Volunteer Fire and Rescue assemble cardboard boxes to hold donations to be given to victims of the Tennessee wildfires Friday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Eileen Godin</p><p>egodin@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>Trucksville Volunteer Fire and Rescue</strong></p><p><strong>collection for Tennessee fire victims</strong></p><p><strong>Time:</strong> noon to 8 p.m. Friday</p><p>8 a.m. to noon Saturday</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> <strong></strong>at the Trucksville Volunteer Fire Station,</p><p>11 Carverton Rd. Trucksville</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Trucksville Volunteer Fire & Rescue collect supplies for Tennessee fire victims