Holtons advocate for local fire department
On any given day, you’ll find Amber Holton investing time in worthy activities. She’s a wife, daughter, and friend. As a Coastal Electric member service rep, she assists co-op members with a smile and her kind disposition. She also volunteers in the community where she was born and raised, McIntosh County.
Now, Amber and her husband, Adam, are investing quite a bit of time fundraising for a cause close to their hearts—McIntosh County volunteer fire departments—after they were nominated to run for the titles of Mr. and Miz Shellman Bluff.
But the Holtons’ ties to local fire departments go beyond just fundraising. The couple serves together at the Shellman Bluff Volunteer Fire Department—Adam as assistant chief and Amber as secretary—handling administrative duties, managing equipment and, occasionally, assisting with exterior firefighting, though Amber tries to downplay it.
Mr. and Miz Shellman Bluff is sponsored by Friends of Shellman Bluff, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for the residents of Shellman Bluff and surrounding communities. The Shellman Bluff St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the group’s primary fundraiser and benefits the Shellman Bluff and Harris Neck volunteer fire departments, along with community improvement projects.
Last year, the Friends of Shellman Bluff helped purchase 10 new sets of gear for the fire department. This year, Amber hopes the proceeds will buy four new composite air tanks to replace the older, heavier models the firefighters currently carry, promoting safety, balance, and ease of mobility.
“When our fire department had been through a lot of changes and needed some help, the Friends of Shellman Bluff bought the equipment we needed,” O Amber says. “They’re there to support us. The least we can do is support them. It’s good for both of us.”
The Holtons’ fundraising efforts have truly been grassroots—walk inside any business in Shellman Bluff and you’ll most likely see a donation jar with their photo on it. Posters around town also feature links to Venmo and Cash App accounts. In addition, they stood for hours to work a boot drive at the community’s three-way stop and threw a Mardi Gras masquerade party.
If named Mr. and Miz Shellman Bluff, you’ll see Adam and Amber riding the fire truck in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 25 at 11 a.m. According to Amber, the real perk of the title—besides the money raised—is bragging rights for the year.
For more information or to donate, visit the group’s Facebook page, Instagram account, or their website.