For the sixth consecutive year, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesaler partners are collaborating with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to distribute over 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water to volunteer fire departments across the United States, as reported by the NVFC.
This initiative aims to equip volunteer firefighters with essential resources ahead of the annual summer wildfire season, ensuring preparedness rather than post-disaster response.
Anheuser-Busch’s water donations assist volunteer fire departments, which comprise 65 percent of the nation’s firefighting force, in reallocating limited budgets toward other necessary expenses or equipment.
The 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water, produced and canned by Anheuser-Busch breweries, will be distributed to over 630 volunteer fire departments across 44 states.
Anheuser-Busch has a longstanding history of disaster relief support dating back to 1906, in partnership with the American Red Cross.
The partnership with the NVFC began in 2019, focusing on disaster preparedness.
Together with its wholesaler partners, Anheuser-Busch has delivered nearly 9 million cans of clean, safe drinking water to over 2,000 volunteer fire departments across 49 states.
Cesar Vargas, chief external affairs officer at Anheuser-Busch, stated: “Our continued partnership with the NVFC and volunteer firefighters across the country embodies the rich heritage of Anheuser-Busch and our commitment and long-standing track record of supporting our communities when they need us most – because that’s who we are.”
Anheuser-Busch’s breweries in Cartersville, GA, and Fort Collins, CO, periodically pause beer production to can clean, safe emergency drinking water for disaster relief efforts.
Since 1988, Anheuser-Busch has donated more than 93 million cans of clean drinking water to U.S. communities affected by natural disasters and other crises.
Steve Hirsch, NVFC Chair, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “We’re thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with Anheuser-Busch to support local volunteer fire departments across the nation with drinking water so firefighters can stay hydrated and operating at their best during emergency response.”
Volunteer fire departments often operate with constrained budgets and limited resources.
The donation of emergency drinking water by Anheuser-Busch allows these departments to allocate funds toward other critical areas such as equipment and training.
The partnership exemplifies how public-private collaborations can enhance community preparedness and support first responders in their critical roles.
Anheuser-Busch’s initiative highlights the importance of providing necessary resources to volunteer firefighters, who play a crucial role in emergency response, especially during the wildfire season.
By ensuring firefighters have access to clean drinking water, the partnership contributes to their safety and effectiveness in protecting communities.
