HURRICAN HELENE RELIEF DRIVE

On October 4th, 5th and 6th Donna McDowell coordinated a drive for items to go to the victims of Hurricane Helene. The Surf City Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 and Emergency Medical Services collected supplies for the flood ravaged areas in Western North Carolina.

Thank you will never be enough. To quote a friend, “if you think my hands are full, you should see my heart”. The outpouring of support for our hurricane relief efforts far exceeded any of my expectations! It started as a little voice in my head telling me I should do something. I let the voice go for a day, letting it nag me. I just shut it off… until I didn’t. A friend posted something on Facebook about supplies being flown out of Lakewood Airport, and the voice started screaming “do this”. Anyone who knows me knows the challenge was accepted. I made contact with the person on the Facebook post and the relief effort was in high gear. Thus a relief effort was born between the Surf City Volunteer Fire Company, Cody Coburn of Cole Home Construction and the NJ Aero Club who offered up their planes and pilots.

So, I started posting about making collections and transporting stuff to the Lakewood Airport. Tuckerton Lumber Company of Surf City has donated the use of a Surfbox (think a moving Pod) and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department gave us the use of a trailer. During my posting frenzy, I was contacted by Jim Neebling, President/Founder @ Princeton Logistics Group. Jim offered up the use of a box truck to pick up our donations and put them on a larger truck to head south. Talk about a lot of moving pieces!

Needless to say, the residents of Long Beach Island have been beyond generous. The amount of donations and the generosity of the community are overwhelming. Our trailers are full and the donations will be distributed soon. We went through alot during Sandy. Now it’s our turn to pay it forward and you did not disappoint.

I hate to name names, because I am always afraid I will leave someone out, but I have to say a public thank you to Cody, Rob and Steve (of the NJ Aero Club), Jim for his trucks, my husband, Mike, who has worked like crazy and put up with me, my friends and fellow department members, the community members at large who have come out to drop things off then stayed to help, Tuckerton Lumber and the Sheriff’s Department, Home Depot and Lowes for the donation of boxes, VE Ralph Medical Supplies, the Surf City Taxpayers Assn, Beach Haven First Aid Squad and Stafford EMS for their critical donation of PPE, and most importantly to the community who knocked this out of the park! There are so many more, so I apologize if I missed you. I know how grateful the people affected by Hurricane Helene are.

Again, Thank you isn’t enough but it’s all I’ve got. Please know you made a positive difference and the people of North Carolina feel your kindness and generosity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and theirs as well.

Donna McDowell

Below are some photos of the collections:

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to our generous sponsors for our annual Cornhole Tournament! You helped make our biggest fundraiser of the year a huge success. Your support goes directly back to the community through the fire and lifesaving services we provide directly to our residents and visitors. Thank you for helping us provide the most up to date equipment and well-trained members to serve our community.

Anyone interested in joining us as a volunteer firefighter or EMT, should call us at 609-494-6127.

To our community and visitors, please support our sponsors!

HERO SPONSOR:

Air Technical Services, Scojo's Eatery, Hodgson Building Contractors, Anchor Appliances. Cheese Shoppe

ENGINE SPONSOR:

American Abstract Agency, Vermeer North Atlantic, For-Shore Weed Control

HYDRANT SPONSOR:

Barlow GMC, Fantasy Island Amusement Park, Surf City Hotel, Northside, Bay Avenue Plant Company

AXE SPONSOR:

Amon Construction, Lou's Electric, D. Finelli Builders, Big Dipper, Woodie's. Garabedian Realty Group

How You Brewin Coffee Company. General Insurance Agency, Inc, Thomas J. Keller Building Contractor

SIREN SPONSOR:

The Drill Sergeant Cleaning Services, Beach Haven Moose Lodge 1575, Crawlspace Solutions

Stonehenge Building, Sandpaper, LBI Table, Blue Claw Seafood Market