“This is what it’s all about, helping people,” Ross Tarver said as he and a group of volunteers loaded water into the vehicles of residents Tuesday afternoon, January 23.
Tarver, president and general manager of Tarver Distributing, worked with Crystal Geyser Spring Water to provide a trailer truck load of drinking water to customers on the Copperhill water system.
The system suffered a severe water leak the previous weekend, shutting off water service to customers.
Tarver supplied the truck, driver and volunteers to help distribute the water and Cyrstal Geyser, which is located just outside of Benton, donated the water.
“You can have sunshine on your shoulders one day and be in the mud the next day,” Tarver said of his desire to help.
He remembered all too well when his home was destroyed by a tornado in 2011. Countless people showed up to help him recover everything that could be salvaged. “It’s a humbling experience,” he said.
County Executive Robby Hatcher praised both Tarver and Crystal Geyser “for their acts of kindness” when he told the county commission of their efforts. “Those two made it happen,” Hatcher said at the commission meeting Thursday, January 25.
The water was distributed in the parking lot of the former Piggly Wiggly store in Ducktown.