Summer is fire season in the Overberg, and with the sweltering temperatures it has been a brutal fire season so far, with no signs of abating. Fires have been raging throughout the Overberg, with devastating effects.
Firefighters, definitely unsung heroes, are risking life and limb to safeguard the lives and properties of others. (“Unsung heroes on duty this season”, Hermanus Times, 17 December 2025). These brave men and women work gruelling shifts, often 48-72 hours at a time, and to sustain this nutrition and hydration are of the utmost importance and it is heart-warming to see communities rally round providing drinks and snacks for the firefighters when the call goes out.
Hermanus Times is launching a drive for non-perishable goods for all the Overberg firefighters. We feel it is necessary to build up a considerable stock of these goods which, once collected, will be distributed to the various fire stations in the Overberg.
Items needed are:
• Water 500ml bottles
• Energy drinks (Powerade and Energade)
• Energy bars
• Snacks (small packets of chips, raisins)
• Super C sweets, gummy sweets and even lollipops
• Small packets of biscuits
• Chocolates (Bar One and Lunch Bar, which do not melt so easily)
• Saline eye drops
• Lip balm or small tubs of Vaseline
• Cans of bully Beef (which they can open easily and eat while on duty)
Items such as coffee, tea, sugar and long-life milk can also be donated for the use of the firefighters at their respective fire stations.
We by no means say don’t supply the fire stations with goods when required, but this is a drive to build up emergency supplies for future use. All goods collected will be taken to a central point for later distribution.
This is a heartfelt plea to businesses and the communities support us in this drive. No donation is too small, even a few bottles of water will all add up in the end.
Contacts for donations: Caledon and surrounds: Mitzi Buys 076 543 0261
Donations in Caledon can also be dropped off at Ons Winkel, Prince Alfred Road (next to the Pharmacy)
Hermanus and surrounds: Mariëtte Strydom 082 443 2184
Collections can be arranged if needed.
