MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Meridian firefighters were out Filling The Boot this past Saturday at the Celebrate Meridian event.

This is the first annual Fill The Boot campaign since September 2015 where Firefighter Dennis Rodeman lost his life in a hit and run accident while collecting money on the streets of Lansing.

This year, with Rodeman in their hearts, the brave men put on their shirts that stated "Meridian Heroes" and began to fill the boot!

As firefighters walked around the festival collecting donations, other firemen were actively playing with the kids, showing them how to properly use the fire hose and giving them a first look on the inside of a fire truck.

The Fill The Boot fundraising money will go towards kids who are apart of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The money raised helps with medicine, surgeries, gifts and anything that could benefit those affected.

Firefighter John McDermott states, "the Fill the Boot campaign raises money for Muscular Dystrophy, it raises money for multiple Muscular diseases that goes to help kids, puts them through boot camp, the money goes towards research and most of the money we raise in this area stays to all the local patients in this area."

Last year the firefighters raised $17,000, firefighter McDermott has hopes of reaching 20,000 this year.

Giving back and protecting the the community is first nature to the Meridian Fire Department.

Fill The Boot Campaign will be back on the streets of Lansing this coming fall.