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Unique products saving lives after hurricanes

Posted at 5:13 PM, Sep 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-25 17:17:46-04

A Safety Harbor company is helping save lives in Hurricane ravaged areas like Houston, South Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Sawyer Products is donating nearly 120,000 water filters to areas devastated by Hurricane Harvey, Maria and Irma.

The water filters use the same technology as kidney dialysis machines to clean water, which means even the dirtiest flood water can be filtered into something hurricane survivors can drink.

The filter can be used in a bucket to filter up to 500 gallons of water a day. 

The company is also donating hundreds of thousands of cans and packets of heavy duty bug spay that lasts for 6 washings on your clothing and weeks on your skin.

In all, the small, family owned company is donating nearly 7 million dollars in products to hurricane victims, but owner Kurt Avery says it’s not about the money, it’s about conversations like this that he had with a grandparent in Kenya. 

“She said if only I had that filter a week ago I would still have my grandson. That gets you right there in the heart. As far as giving, it’s an obligation. It’s a privilege but it’s also an obligation. God is asking us to do this so we are going to do it,” Avery explained.

The Sawyer products are typically used by outdoor adventurists, hikers and campers, but the unique items are helping save lives in areas with horrible devastation. 

The Safety Harbor company has teamed up with charitable organizations like Convoy of Hope and Samaritan's Purse to get the donated products to places like Puerto Rico.