September 07, 2005

Hurricane Relief Efforts

Like many states, Connecticut is collecting relief supplies for Katrina victims from private and corporate donors. nbc30.com - News - Rell Opens Armories As Hurricane Help Centers

I turned out at the Hartford Armory at 8:15 AM Tuesday, and worked steadily until 5:45 PM. They said over 1000 people volunteered during the day Monday, and it looked like a similar number Tuesday. There was a surplus of volunteers at some times, but they were needed when a Sysco Food Services semitrailer came in, packed to the gills with food, water and clothing collected from private donors in Rocky Hill. It took a bucket brigade of about 40 volunteers a full hour working hard to offload it into the sorting and packing system, as individual carloads continued to arrive. Inside the truck, I was catching 30-bottle flats of water tossed to me by a West Hartford nurse and passing them down the line to a high school student in her white shirt and navy skirt. ctnow.com: State Shines In Relief

The work of building, palletizing and plastic wrapping palletloads of donated supplies was quite different from that for which I trained in 30+ years of law study and practice, but it fit right in with my Army training and recreational gardening and felt good at the end of the day.

I'm going back today. If you come, dress for warm temperatures outside at the loading areas and inside the training shed. Snacks, lunch and water are provided.

DougSimpson.com/blog

Posted by dougsimpson at September 7, 2005 06:11 AM