Supporting Asheville from the Monadnock Area of NH
MISSION COMPLETE!
Sara from PLP should be arriving to deliver the load of goods as I write. Thank you to ALL of you who made this collection and donation effort a ringing success! There are, in fact, a few more goods that will be delivered at a later date that didn’t make it on the trailer, but the collection period is officially over. Your support will provide essentials needed to help the residents of the Asheville area survive and recover from the devastation that, while no longer front page news, still impacts nearly every moment of life in the area. Cheers to all of you for making this happen!
Special thanks to:
Fitzwilliam Police Association (Chief DiSalvo and Officer Mitchell) for taking this under their umbrella. This was the keystone to the project.
Laurie Lafond and Barbara Brooks for recruiting and organizing the collection and organizational team.
Kristen Noonan from Savings Bank of Walpole for helping get out the word so effectively.
Beth Lorenz, Suzanne Gray and Sarah Massin who connected me originally to this amazing group.
Sara Goodale of PLP for speeding the trailer to it’s destination.
Sam Habgood for being our “Man on the Ground”, guiding us toward the critical goods and distribution at the other end.
There were of course many other contributors that were part of the key team who are going unmentioned here (see the list below for more), but this should not diminish our appreciation for every effort provided.
See the media page for updated photos of the collection and the distribution center down in NC.
Click HERE for a downloadable version of the donations list.
Sponsored by
Fitzwilliam Police Association
Supported by:
PLP Composites
The Frank Massin Insurance Agency
Savings Bank of Walpole
Fitzwilliam Community Church
Fitzwilliam District Nursing Association
Keene Area Manufacturers Consortium (KAMC)
Sam’s Outdoor
ABTech
Gem Graphics, Inc.
New England Wooden Ware
What we are working to do:
The entire region from western NC down to the Gulf was of course ravaged by Hurricane Helene just over a week ago. This is an effort by local businesses and organizations (originating out of Fitzwilliam) to band together to collect goods desperately needed, but not prioritized by the federal and state emergency agencies.
How we started:
Dan Scheerer of PLP Composites in Fitzwilliam was on a business trip driving through NC and Georgia in the two weeks prior to the Hurricane and headed back to NH just a day ahead of the devastation. Having just visited with customers in the region now so dramatically impacted, this project is an effort to respond to the very deep and urgent needs of those in the area. (This effort kicked off October 5, 2024)
Starting with our “Man on the Ground”:
There is an enormous response going on by federal and state entities to bring emergency supplies - primarily water and food - to the area. However, there is a great need for sanitary, heating/warmth (as the weather is now turning colder), and other essential personal supplies. By good fortune, Dan discovered that the son of good friends, Sam Habgood, lives in Asheville, and though he lost his car in the storm, fortunately he is otherwise ok and working very hard to provide support to his fellow Asheville residents. Of course there are many areas suffering from the disaster, but with Sam's agreement, he will be acting as our contact to ensure we can get the needed supplies to those who so desperately need them..
Sam has already provided an initial list of items that folks on the ground need, but on 10/5, he added that the list will be lengthening as more information comes to light about what is, and is not, making it's way to the area and as weather changes. Therefore, the list below is likely to be modified day to day, but that does NOT mean that previously donated items are any less precious.
How this will work:
NOTE: This is NOT a fundraising event, but thanks to the generosity of the Fitzwilliam Police Association, this effort is covered by their non-profit status. Any donors looking for a letter of tax exempt status can reach out to: admin@fitzpolice.us.
We are a collection of individuals and organizations that just want to help. This is a hard goods (NOT food) drive to collect a long list of items provided by Sam knowing the needs directly on the ground. PLEASE: all items should be NEW and in original packaging.
DETAILS: PLP Composites has a 30' box trailer that will be utilized to collect the goods and deliver them to serve Swananoa, a hard hit area of Asheville. That trailer will be placed at the Police and Fire Department parking lot in the Depot of Fitzwilliam. Other collection locations will be at Savings Bank of Walpole branches, and other locations to be determined.
CRITICAL TIMING: The need is urgent. We are doing our best to get the word out hoping we can collect as much as possible within a short period of time. We would greatly appreciate your support in this timeframe! The trailer will be in place beginning Wednesday, October 9th and will be leaving for delivery to Asheville, NC on October 21st. This is just under two weeks but we hope to get swift response to fill the pressing need in the area.
THE LIST OF SUPPLIES NEEDED (as of 10/10/24. Please note this list is a guide. Related items also welcome!):
