From left, James Marsh, local Fred’s store manager, presents Dwayne Herrington, City of Millen Public Safety Director, with checks for the Millen Police Department and Millen Fire Department as part of the company’s 9/ 11 fundraiser program. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) Each year since 2002, Fred’s Hometown Discount Stores have commemorated the fallen heroes of 9/11 through a fundraiser for the emergency teams that serve their store locations. The campaign was successful again this year, and Fred’s is donating a chain-wide total of $314,803 to local emergency teams across their regions.

The local Fred’s store raised and donated $750 that was divided between the Millen Police Department and Millen Fire Department.

Fred’s stores sold “Hero Hats” for $1 each with all proceeds going to selected emergency teams around store locations. In addition, all operating profits from store sales on Sept. 11 were also donated.

“Hero Hats” are personal signs that customers pay $1 to sign and hand in the window of their Fred’s store in visible support of their emergency teams. District managers in each market select the designated emergency organizations, generally the response teams who would come to the store in the event of an emergency.

Since the promotion began in 2002, Fred’s has raised and donated more than $1.6 million for local fire, police and sheriff departments.

“This is our way each year of saying ‘thank you’ to the men and women who put their lives at risk every day to protect our lives and property,” said Ursula Roman, Fred’s marketing director. “We hope the emergency teams found it rewarding to pass by a store and see all of those Hero Hats hanging in the window in their honor.”

Fred’s, Inc. operates 669 discount general merchandise stores, including 24 franchised Fred’s stores.