Around 25 volunteers gathered at the Operation Giving Trees building on Cassidy Avenue in Fredonia Saturday morning to unload a semi-truck load of supplies to be used for the long-term recovery of the recent tornado victims.
According to Stacey Menser of the long-term recovery team, they are partnering with Jackie Greenfield to provide space for much-needed supplies in the recovery effort. Greenfield started Operation Christmas Giving Trees in December after the tornado hit our local area. According to Menser, they are now transforming into Operation Giving Trees and will be assisting with the long-term recovery effort.
The truck brought a wide range of much-needed items including appliances, furniture and shelving. The shelving will be a huge benefit for Greenfield and her group as they set up for the distribution of supplies over the next months. This will not be a come-in and shop facility but anyone having needs will need to contact Greenfield at 270-625-3082.
click to download audioThis truckload of supplies came from the Christ In Action group from Elkwood, Virginia who was here during the tornado clean-up. According to Karen Kilmer of Christ in Action, she and her husband Mike work with this ministry and brought the semi-full of items to Fredonia. She said their ministry comes into an area and helps clean up and then returns around 6 months later bringing in supplies that can be used to help the victims. She explained that a lot of the donations were slightly used and were given to their ministry as a result of individuals not needing them anymore or an estate that decided not to have a sale but to donate them instead.
Caldwell County Judge-Executive Larry Curling was on hand helping with the unloading process and expressed his gratitude to these groups for their help. He added that many Christian groups showed up and helped out greatly right after the tornado in the cleanup and now they are continuing to reach out to help in the recovery. He said we are blessed by the Operation Giving Trees and the long-term recovery team with their help in working with these groups, there is still a lot of work to bed one.
Both Menser with the long-term recovery and Greenfield with the Operation Giving Trees said they can always use help in their efforts and will continue to update the community on ways to get involved.
(Story By George Kilgore)
