Storm aid continues
Published 10:18 am Monday, May 9, 2011
Frontier Communications donated much-needed supplies to local relief efforts for those north Alabama towns devastated by recent tornadoes. Pictured, from left, Frontier employees Wade Clark, Sue Dortch, Jip Hazlewood and Mike Fountain give the supplies to Atmore Fire Department personnel Dan Currie and David Amerson Friday morning.|Photo by Allison Brown
Donations have been flooding in once again for families devastated by the tornadoes in north Alabama last month.
Following Monday’s delivery of an 18-wheeler filled with disaster relief supplies, city and Pepsi Cola Bottling of Atmore officials began spreading the word of another effort to collect supplies for those in need.
Prior to the departure of the first load, which was mostly collected during a three-day period last week, Bro. Don Davis, pastor of First Assembly of God, donated $500 for the church to purchase 100 cases of water to start the next load. Since, donations have been steadily coming in daily.
Friday, Frontier Communications donated pallets full of supplies including baby diapers, wipes and formula; batteries; flashlights; First Aid kits; water; sports drinks; sodas; coolers and non-perishable food items. General Manager Cereal Daniel said Frontier donated $1,000 to purchase the supplies and also had both monetary and supply donations from employees.
“All of the employees remember (Hurricane) Ivan and the help that all of our residents received from others, and we wanted to return the favor,” he said. “It’s a different type of disaster, but all-in-all, it’s a disaster.”
Atmore Mayor Howard Shell said he was touched by the outpouring of donations from the community and wanted to send another truckload to those in need.
“It lets me know that people remember when we were the victims and people stepped up to the plate to help us,” Shell said. “It’s just overwhelming to see the response from people, and the ones that did not have an opportunity can now have another opportunity.”
Shell said earlier this week that he is unsure where the next load of supplies will be delivered, but he has been in touch with the state’s Emergency Management Agency, which was to suggest a destination for the supplies Thursday. However, since the truck is still being filled, officials with EMA told Shell that they would give him a destination early next week when the truck is scheduled to deliver.
Residents can still drop off supplies from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday at Pepsi.
Area schools have also been collecting items for the storm victims.
