A local pillar, the Akron Volunteer Fire Company serves the community in a variety of ways, not the least of which is responding to emergencies. The local community appreciates everything that the fire company does.

"We have a strong backing in the community," said Aaron Murray, vice president of the Akron Volunteer Fire Company. "We attend a lot of local events. If people reach out about an event, we make it a point to be there."

Recently, the local community showed its appreciation for the Akron Volunteer Fire Company Station 12 through some thoughtful actions. During a time of need, the community stepped up for the fire company in a big way.

A minor oversight had left the fire company's supply of bottled drinking water precariously low. Murray took to social media and posted in a local Facebook group about the situation and asked for assistance.

The response was immediate and decisive.

"When I went into the closet at the fire hall, I realized we only had 10 cases of water left," said Murray. "I thought to myself, 'This isn't good.' I decided to make a post on Facebook and see what would happen. The next day, my phone was ringing, I was getting texts and I was getting messages on Facebook.

"There was no one at the fire company really assigned to the bottled water," added Murray. "It's kind of like, 'If you make a mess, clean it up.' We had had a couple of heat waves and the Fourth of July holiday."

Dozens of donations of water poured in, from residents, civically minded individuals, concerned businesses and local Scouting America troops. In 14 hours, the Akron Volunteer Fire Company received more than 3,000 bottles of drinking water.

It nearly got to the point where the fire company didn't know where to go with all the water.

"It was overwhelming in a good way," said Murray. "It was impressive. It was a grateful feeling due to an outpouring of support. Nothing like this ever really happened before, not in regards to hydration materials. Never to the extent of asking the public, like, 'Hey, we need your help.' Now our closet is full."

The active Akron Volunteer Fire Company consumes its share of bottled water. The local fire company fills a cooler with ice and bottled water, and members drink it when they go out on calls, during training sessions or when they attend local events.

"The problem we were presented with is no longer a problem, per se," said Murray, a resident of Ephrata. "But you run into these logistical issues like, 'How long will it last?' Anything to us is a donation, and any donation is beyond appreciated."

Established in 1893, the Akron Volunteer Fire Company, which is located at 1229 Main St., is operated by 75 dedicated members. The fire company responds to about 120 calls each year, for fires, vehicle accidents, medical emergencies and public assistance.

"Our firefighters are dedicated individuals who want a way to give back," said Murray. "They have decided that they want to give back in a way that helps the community and serves other people. We provide public safety and the preservation of life and property. We also want to be a presence in the community. We don't want to be strangers.

"We are a community-based, volunteer organization, and we are here for the people," concluded Murray. "When the fire siren goes off, we're not showing up because we're getting paid. We're showing up because we care for the community."

For additional information, go to http://www.akronfire.org.