5 hours Ago By Jim Flynn
This past summer, I reconnected with a friend whom I had not seen or heard from in nearly 20 years. She now lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her husband and five kids. When Hurricane Helene hit that area, I texted Lauren to see how her town faired.
The news was tragic. Their small town of 550 lost community members, had 20 homes destroyed, and many others with major damage. I started the Creston North Carolina Relief Fund with the idea I could get several hundred dollars in donations to help with the recovery.
With donation locations at Merritt Clarke’s Store, Bantam Fire Company, Bantam Farmer’s Market and with the help of my friend and social media guru, Katie LaPointe, more than $6,500 has been raised to date_ To those who donated, all my friends and neighbors that I know and to those I have not yet met, thank you and God bless you. Immediate needs for food and clothing were met by North Carolina and surrounding states. Our focus was to provide medical and safety needs.
Before power was restored, we sent several boxes of flashlight batteries, solar lights, and headlamps. With their homes flooded out, yellow jackets were angry and aggressive. Lauren alerted me that they were running out of EpiPens.
A donation of six vials of epinephrine from Bantam Fire Company, with syringes and needles, was sent express mail and arrived in time to help a community member experiencing an allergic reaction to a bee sting. The fund then purchased an additional 25 vials, 200 syringes, and 200 needles for their future needs. Additionally, several boxes of OTC baby and infant meds, wound-care supplies, and hard-cased first-aid kits were sent.
I recently purchased 10 digital ear thermometers for Creston EMTs. The balance of the fund is in a bank account ready to respond to other needs and emergencies. When all needs are met, the balance will be sent to help with rebuilding homes and Creston Fire Department.
Thank you all again. We are blessed to have such a caring community. Dick Sheldon Bantam.
