There's reason they call themselves "brothers."

A group of nine volunteer firefighters and two civilians from the Egypt Fire Company No. 1 showed their fellow Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue Company firefighters how much they care by driving to Connecticutt. to hand deliver a check for $1,000.

Lt. Mike Hartranft said the Egypt volunteer fire company discussed donating the proceeds from a Jan. 4 spaghetti dinner to the Sandy Hook fire company. The spaghetti dinner raised $862; the fire company chipped in another $138 of its own funds.

"We thought it would be a good idea," Hartranft said. "We felt obligated as brothers and sisters of fire to show our support."

The Egypt firefighters departed the Lehigh Valley 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 13 in a 15-passenger van. The group arrived in Connecticut a few hours later and personally presented the check to Sandy Hook Fire Chief William T. Halstead Sr.

"They were [Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue Company] quite surprised," said Hartranft. "The chief was a little speechless."

Hartranft said the trip was a meaningful experience for those involved.

"It was a pretty humbling experience for everyone who went on the trip," he said. "It was nice to see how grateful they were. They were so nice."

While in Connecticut, the group from the Egypt Fire Company also took a tour of the Sandy Hook fire company facilities and drove by the site of the Newtown shooting.