Firefighters from the Spalding County Fire Department will be out the next two weekends in May with boots in hand.

The firefighters will be in the streets, at local shopping centers, and at area businesses collecting money for the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation’s 23rd annual “Give Burns The Boot” drive May 3-5 and May 11-12. Donations help the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation.

The firefighters will be out from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at locations including Wal-Mart, Huckaby’s and Kangaroo, as well as at intersections across the county.

Spalding County Fire Chief Kenny West, chairman of the local effort, asked residents to “please give generously when a firefighter asks for your support.”

The Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation was founded in 1982 by a group of DeKalb County firefighters. Over the last 29 years, the foundation has grown to incorporate the entire state and expanded its work to include all Georgians.

In 1990, the “Give Burns The Boot” campaign was started to support the foundation’s efforts and since that time, firefighters have continued their support by collecting more than $11 million. The Burn Foundation works to educate the public in burn awareness and prevention, supports medical facilities, including the Burn Center at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and the M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, in the care of burns and assists burn survivors in their recovery.

In the past nine years, the foundation has awarded more than $185,000 to departments across the state for fire safety and burn prevention programs.

Money raised by the Spalding County Fire Department also goes to Camp Oo-U-La, the state’s only camp for burn-injured children. Last year the camp celebrated its 19th anniversary and welcomed 94 campers. The cost for the camp and volunteers is covered entirely by the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation.

For free fire safety and burn prevention information, contact the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation at 404-320-6223 or 800-273-2876, or visit www.gfbf.com.