The Henderson Fire Department is having a special boot drive Friday, Aug. 29 to show support for a longtime member of the city’s firefighter family.

Steve Falkner has been with the department for more than 40 years, and Fire Chief Tim Twisdale said this boot drive was organized to help Falkner’s infant grandson, who has spent most of his short life at Duke University Hospital with complications from congenital heart defects.

“We’re going to collect funds to show them some love and support,” Twisdale said on Thursday’s TownTalk. The boot drive will take place in front of Station 1 on Dabney Drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

According to Twisdale, the little fellow has been hospitalized “pretty much every day since he’s been born.”

His parents are both schoolteachers and live in Lake Waccamaw, in Columbus County.

“They’re public servants, just like Steve,” Twisdale said, and he said the boot drive is one way to show their support as the family goes through this tough time.

“That’s what we’re here for – to try to help everyone in the community…we try to be available for everyone,” Twisdale said.

Click Play!