Nowra Men's Shed volunteers have thrown their support behind volunteers from the West Nowra Rural Fire Service brigade.
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The brigade has served them well, keeping the property safe from the genuine threat of fire - the shed backs onto hectares of dense bushland.
Men's Shed president Neville Bray handed over a $500 donation to West Nowra's president James Walker on Friday.
"We were looking for a local organisation we thought we could support," Mr Bray said.
"We don't have any direct interest except we live in Nowra and it's a worthy organisation.
"These fellas go out there and put their lives on the line to help the community, that's definitely worth supporting.
"There have been fires over the back here, between the Nowra Showground and the university, we've seen these fellas go out there and look after that for us."
Mr Walker, who has been volunteering for 16 years, said donations from community groups were vital.
"It helps to buy much-needed equipment, things we can't get from Firecom, spare nozzles, stuff we use out on the fire," he said.
"Things break, things need to be replaced."
Some volunteers have been on deck longer than himself, and he would love to recruit more young people.
"The biggest problem is, we're all getting old, the biggest killer of our firefighters is heart attacks," Mr Walker said.
"We need younger people in it, we're getting a few younger ones but they can't afford the time."
For information on volunteering, visit the RFS website.
