IMA Urgent Care Now Collecting Bottled Water For First Responders

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Summertime can be a dangerously hot season for firefighters to fight fires.

And that's why IMA Urgent Care & Primary Care is currently hosting their sixth annual bottled water drive to benefit local fire companies and first aid squads.

Six years ago, IMA president, Dr. Roger Thompson of Family Practice of Middletown, said he was stunned to learn that volunteer fire departments and first aid squad were forced to rely on donations for bottled water to stay hydrated during an emergency.

That's when IMA started their first bottled water drive, which they've done every early June since. To date, IMA’s patients have donated over 5,000 cases of water to benefit Monmouth County first responders.

This year, IMA is expanding the bottled water drive to include donations of granola bars. First responders often miss a meal and need nourishment when responding to an emergency, of which there are hundreds:

“Last year, we had over 700 requests for service,” said Maggie Lippolis, Oceanport First Aid Squad’s Information Officer.

Bottled water and granola bars can be dropped off to any of IMA’s two urgent care centers and eight primary care offices during office hours:

• Chapel Hill Family Medicine – 100 Village Court, Hazlet
• Family Practice of Middletown – 18 Leonardville Road, Middletown
• Red Bank Family Medicine – 231 Maple Avenue, Red Bank
• Red Bank Family Medicine – 35 Gilbert Street South, Tinton Falls
• Red Bank Medical – 175 Patterson Avenue, Shrewsbury
• River Road Primary Care – 569 River Road, Fair Haven
• Hazlet Family Care – 3253 Route 35, Hazlet
• IMA Pediatrics – 231 Maple Avenue, Red Bank
• IMA Urgent Care – 1026 Broad Street, Shrewsbury
• IMA Urgent Care – 363 Route 36, Middletown

“This is a simple yet impactful way for people to help our local first responders,” said Dr. Thompson.