MOUNT GILEAD — Morrow County helped the people of Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
Local resident Jim Bartlett collected clothing Wednesday and Thursday morning at a truck parked at the Mount Gilead Save-A-Lot. That truck left Thursday afternoon to the Fern Trucking Company’s semi in Columbus to be hauled to Houston.
Bartlett was working with Fern’s to make sure Morrow County is represented in the effort. His sister and her family live in the affected region.
“The response from folks has been tremendous,” Bartlett said. “There have been donations from all over the county. People from Cardington, Northmoor, Highland and Mount Gilead Schools have all brought clothing and water and toiletries. Some brought diapers and others brought sheets and towels.”
He said some residents added a personal touch.
“Many had written little notes on the bag labels. Things like ‘Sent with love from Edison’ and ‘our prayers are with you.’ The donations filled most of the truck. And since some people brought cash over we used that to buy water to fill the back end to the brim,” Bartlett said.
The truck has made its first run to Columbus. Jim noted that he knew that 24 hours wasn’t much time for folks to get donations together.
“We’ll begin to collect more items as soon as we get back from Columbus and will send it back as soon as it’s full.”
Now that the initial push to get dry clothes and water to Texans is past, Bartlett’s truck is open to receive more towels, sheets, pillows, diapers, water and clothes.
Several local churches in the Inter-Church Council are assisting Bartlett’s efforts.
Those include Bryn Zion, First Baptist, First Presbyterian, New Life Assembly of God and Trinity United Methodist.
“We are only helping with this. It is Jim Bartlett’s idea,” said Rev. Deborah Bowsher of First Presbyterian Church in Mount Gilead.
At least 38 deaths have been recorded in several states. Officials say it could take up to two weeks to check all neighborhoods that were submerged by more than 4 feet of rain.
The local office of the American Red Cross is also helping.
“One of the best things about living in Morrow County is how generous people are and how willing they are to help. With the crisis down south you can imagine how many phone calls and visits we are getting asking us what could be done to help out,” said Jeanine Girard, volunteer administrative coordinator.
Here are ways residents can help those in the Gulf region.
“Donate blood. If you can donate, please do. Maybe it’s been some time since you donated, but boy could we use your blood now. The need for blood never stops and it is really needed down south.”
To find the drives in your area go to http://www.redcross.org/give-blood or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
“Not everyone can donate monies and we certainly understand that. If you would like hold a car wash, a bake sale, garage sale any type of event like that and donate the proceeds,” Girard said.
If you wish to donate money, go to http://www.redcross.org/ You may also call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
The Red Cross office in Mount Gilead is open Monday-Fridays 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and the phone number is 419-946-2811.
.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}
