A trailer filled to capacity with bottled water, diapers, pet supplies, and other essentials departed from Damariscotta the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 17 bound for Florida to help those impacted by Hurricane Irma. (Maia Zewert photo)
Due to the generosity of local businesses and residents, a tractor-trailer filled to capacity with bottled water, clothing, pet food, and other hurricane-relief supplies departed Damariscotta for Florida the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 17, a full nine days earlier than organizers anticipated.
The truck, donated by Yankee Pride Transport, of Damariscotta, and a trailer donated by Northeast Transport Inc., of Waldoboro, has sat in the parking lot of The American Legion Wells-Hussey Post No. 42 in Damariscotta since Sept. 8. Since then, there has been a steady flow of community members and businesses stopping by with everything from pallets of bottled water to canned goods.
“It’s truly been remarkable,” said Bonnie Poland, the American Legion Auxiliary unit president. “The community really supported this, and that’s why they’re heading out earlier than we expected.”
Several local businesses and organizations gave major donations to the drive, Poland said, including Ames True Value Hardware & Supply, Damariscotta Hardware, Louis Doe Home Center, Renys, and the Waldoboro and Friendship fire departments. Bath Iron Works donated more than 200 pairs of coveralls and the organizers of the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta contributed T-shirts and other apparel left over from previous years’ events.
Other donations included canned goods, cleaning supplies, and bedding. One couple, who was celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, asked friends and family to donate pet food to the drive rather than give gifts, Poland said.
By Sunday, approximately 48,000 pounds of supplies had been loaded into the trailer by Legion volunteers, Poland said. Yankee Pride driver Woodbury “Woody” McLean departed Damariscotta with the trailer just after noon.
Originally, the trailer was bound for Houston to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. The plan changed, however, after Yankee Pride Transport owner Larry Sidelinger heard from an American Legion post in Houston that the city had received an influx of donations from across the country and suggested the trailer be rerouted to help those affected by Hurricane Irma.
Sidelinger has been in contact with Stephen Shuga, the commander of the Florida American Legion, which will oversee the distribution of the supplies.
In addition to donations of supplies, the drive received more than $5,200 in cash donations. After offsetting fuel and other costs, approximately $2,500 will go to the Florida American Legion to be disbursed where needed.
The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary in Damariscotta worked with two local trucking companies to collect a trailer full of supplies for hurricane relief. From left: Jane Toussaint, Robert Sewall, Jim Boutilier, Woodbury McLean, Bob Wilshire, Bonnie Poland, Bruce Poland, Gayle Gifford, Gerry Gifford, Larry Sidelinger, and Ron Toussiant. (Maia Zewert photo)
Sidelinger and Poland credited the generosity of the community for making the drive a success.
“The people and the businesses are the real superstars for giving all that they did,” Sidelinger said. “We’re just doing what we do best and making sure it gets there.”
While one local relief effort has wrapped up, another is just getting underway. Sumner Fernald “Ricky” Richards IV and Moira Rose “Rosie” Mahegan recently kicked off a fundraiser in the Twin Villages to help people impacted by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.
Robert Sewall, of The American Legion Wells-Hussey Post No. 42, shakes hands with Diane E. Duscheck, the national president of the American Legion Auxiliary. Duscheck visited Damariscota on Wednesday, Sept. 13 to learn more about the post’s hurricane-relief efforts. (Maia Zewert photo)
The fundraiser, which will run through the end of the month, will raise money for All Hands Volunteers, a disaster relief organization both Richards and Mahegan volunteered with in the past. The nonprofit responds to areas impacted by natural disasters to not only help rebuild structures, but also to help renew a sense of community.
Richards and Mahegan, who run S. Fernald’s Country Store in Damariscotta, organized a Raffle for Relief to support All Hands. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10, and are available for purchase at Fernald’s, Riverside Butcher Co., and Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop.
The drawing for the prizes will take place at Fernald’s on Saturday, Sept. 30. So far, prizes include gift certificates from Fernald’s, Pine Tree Yarns, Reel to Reel Music, Renys, River Bottom Raw Bar, Riverside Butcher Co., Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop, Stars Jewelry, Weatherbird, and Wicked Scoops.
For more information about the raffle, go to Fernald’s Instagram and Facebook pages.
