STATESBORO, GA (WTOC) -

Robin Windgate and Donna Lee-Golden of the American Red Cross opened the boxes for what felt like Christmas in May. Briggs and Stratton, a national small-engine maker, donated generators and pressure washers to local chapters across the country.

"Oh, it's absolutely Christmas," exclaimed Golden, who heads the Statesboro and Lyons ARC offices. "These are the kinds of gifts that you love to get and really need."

The company donated more than 1,300 pieces of equipment to Red Cross chapter offices in 20 states.

Ironically, many of the components to both models' engines were fabricated at Briggs' Statesboro factory.

"We are glad to be a part of this," stated Briggs & Stratton's Mike Aldredge. "But doing this at the start of the season is a real key. After a storm hits, it's a lot harder to get this equipment into the area with all the damage."

According to Windgate, Briggs is one of roughly 100 companies that supply equipment and/or products to American Red Cross for hurricane season, which begins June 1. She hoped individuals will take a page from Red Cross' preparations.

"It is not a matter of if a storm will hit. It's a matter of when a storm will hit," explained Windgate, executive director for Southeast Georgia Red Cross. "We hope people will look online and pull down the lists of what they need in case a storm is approaching.

Red Cross offices for the Southeast Georgia branch received equipment as part of the first wave of donations.

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Briggs and Stratton donates equipment to American Red Cross