Action Saves the Day
Action Saves the Day
Local samaritans rally for hurricane victims with donations
Photo / Jessica Parmenter
“The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.” - Mahatma Gandhi
Everywhere we turn, today’s world seems to be immersed in chaos, lies, and half-truths. We gamely strive to keep our own personal worlds peaceful, positive, and hopeful, yet we push against some pretty onerous obstacles. To make things even worse, Mother Nature seems to have joined the fray, turning everyday life into a living hell for our families, friends, and neighbors in the southeast. Sitting here safely in Western New York, it is difficult to truly imagine what they are going through, even with every news station focused on and televising the events in real time.
Then, miraculously, out of the despair, shines light. Maybe someone knows people in the affected area, or perhaps their hearts just spring open and they follow the heart-felt urging to help. This story is surely repeated across America as good people, wonderful people whom we were certain no longer existed in the dark chaos, helped the tiny seed of an idea to blossom into the equivalent of a room full of sunflowers.
Take, for instance, Jessica Parmenter of Ellicottville who saw a need and jumped into action using her Facebook account to rally good people in the area to donate survival items to those devastated by the storms. Unable to get her story firsthand, this writer perused her Facebook page and found the firsthand accounts by others in the devastated zone, which surely influenced her actions. The stories spoke of impossible to imagine destruction, human bodies, both dead and alive, dug out of the mud, homes floating down the rivers of debris, even with desperate people still in them. Taking the bull by the horns, this young woman turned to social media and triggered an outpouring of donations, assisted by Amy Hayward in Mayor John Burrell’s office who made a building at the town park available for safe drop-offs of goods until they could be loaded into a vehicle and transported south. From viewing Jess Elaine’s FB account, it appears they may have been inspired by, and working with the well-respected charity, Samaritans Purse (https://www.samaritanspurse.org/). Check her account for updates to see if they will be collecting items in the near future.
Ryan and Heather Holland of M&M Holland Propane also responded and recommend Samaritan’s Purse if readers wish to contribute cash. They worked through a local pastor they know who connected them to a church in the devastated area. Through the staggering generosity of individuals who dropped cash ($5,000) and items off at their business location and their home, the Hollands collected several generators, and bought 27 kerosene heaters and 27 five-gallon containers of fuel. These and much needed items were loaded into their truck and an 18’ enclosed trailer filled to the ceiling. The young family drove these items down to the church as close to the target zone as they could safely and legally go. Many roads were inaccessible and their donations were going to be loaded on donkeys (or perhaps Hughey helicopters) and taken to the areas impassable by vehicles. They noted that in some cases, people who drove in with goods were asked to turn them over to FEMA so they could be appropriately distributed and were not, as some rumors stated, “taken by FEMA,” period. As far as they could see, every diaper, every bottle of water, every can of fuel, etc. was dispatched to where it was needed most. They explained that every area has a different need, so if someone arrived with a truckload of water, baby food, dog food, diapers, personal items, or shovels, etc., FEMA was able to find the best place to send them.
Of course, even the brightest story has its dark side. The Hollands told of driving over 45 minutes and seeing nothing but trees downed, cars and homes buried in mud - endless devastation. They also told of an armed thief who held up volunteers at gunpoint along the way, taking their money, wallets, etc. They weren’t sure if said thief was apprehended, but it is heartbreaking to know that these things take place. Aways seeing the good in people, they opined that perhaps it was a person down on his luck with a family to feed, and despairing. Either way, it’s a shame this person had reached that point of desperation in a country that has so much to share.
As with Jess Elaine, you are encouraged to also keep checking on the M&M Holland Facebook pages for updates. If you have not contributed cash and would like to, both recommend doing so to Samaritan’s Purse, or you can, of course, contribute to any charity you would like. Organizations you may belong to likely have contribution centers. I belong to the Rotary Club of Ellicottville so I contributed to Rotary International for funds to be distributed to agencies in the target zones. Visit them at www.disasteraidusa.org. No item or financial gift is too small. Every bit adds up to bring help and encouragement to our fellow Americans. The need for help will be ongoing for months.
If this article inspires you to start your own contribution effort, contact an agency/church/organization you can work through, jump on your social media, and sound the bugle. Judging from the responses these two individuals received, your call will not go unanswered.
“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”
- Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery