Upon pulling up to the parking lot on Saturday morning, a plethora of supplies already sat outside the doors of St. John’s Lutheran Church. Many congregation and community members supported St. John’s by dropping off necessary materials to help the flood victims in Louisiana. Workers bustled between the piles of supplies like bees creating honey in a hive.
Ellen Gearhart, the organizer of the item collection, informed me that the necessities were being loaded into a truck that would take them to Waterville where the Impact With Hope (ISOH) organization will be taking the supplies to those in need in Louisiana. Ellen saw this as God’s way of making a difference in the world and she felt the need to answer the call. The collection took off with many materials that were not asked for but necessary to some people in Louisiana. Towels, pillows, non-perishable food, water cases, plastic bags, and care packages were present along with items that did not seem as common to list of necessities. Tums and sugar free foods were in the bundle as well as many materials for babies and small children. Monetary contributions were also used to pick up items that may not have been as numerous at the collection, but still important to the victims of the flood.
With all the help and donations made, the collection was a success and many people will be helped. Ellen and Dave Gearhart, Lisa, Kenny, Arleigh, Aiden, Alec, and Kali Walz, Cindy Stanton, Julia Rupp, and Cheri Beers worked hard and would like to thank everyone who made donations to support those in Louisiana.
Allyson Hutchison may be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com