In light of the Hurricane Helene devastation, locals are planning on taking as many donated items as possible down to God’s Warehouse in Morristown, Tennessee.
Barb and Keith Plamondon will leave Sunday, connecting with friends in Flat Rock, and traveling to Tennessee on Monday, Oct. 14 to deliver two cargo trailers with donated goods.
Friday, Barb and her daughter Melissa Hapala and Casey Cholowinski took grandchildren Aurora and Aidan to host a bake sale in front of NJ’s Grocery in Lake Leelanau.
The bake sale earned funds for the children to go shopping for supplies.
“They get to go shopping with any money that has been earned to be able to get supplies for the people in the hurricane. They did a great job today,” Barb Plamondon said.
“It was fun,” Aidan and Aurora said with enthusiasm.
Hurricane Helene has claimed at least 12 lives in east Tennessee with another 15 missing, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
“It’s a blessing to be able to do something, even though it’s small. But as much as we can and let the kids be involved and be able to just help others in need. We know people have helped us in need before and would if something like that came to our area, so it’s a blessing,” Melissa said and Casey added. “It’s a Blessing to be able to help others and teach the kids, taking the time to help others as well ... We can’t do a lot here, but little things that we can do to help, hopefully in a big way down there.”
When hurricane Katrina hit in 2004, Melissa and Casey did the same thing with their mother Barb, making cookies and having a bake sale.
“It’s a blessing to be able to see them do it and then teach their kids to do it also,” Barb Plamondon said.
Needs list for Cock County: hardware, box knives, hammers, flat pry board, flat shovels, tyvek suits, wheelbarrows, floor squeegees, heavy duty garbage bags, hoses, mosquito spray, cleaning supplies, mops, brooms, buckets, scoop- shovels, rakes, safety glasses, leather gloves, rubber gloves, mechanic type gloves, small scrub brushes, push brooms, box fans, toilet paper, paper towels, paper products, plasticware, new dishes, new towels & washcloths, laundry detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, new hairbrushes, deodorant & toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, baby formula & food, baby wipes, diapers, adult diapers, gatorade/ powerade, individually wrapped snacks, foods with long shelf life, gift cards, new underwear and bras, new shocks in all sizes, new shoes, sneakers or sandals, new clothing, new sheets, new backpacks & school supplies, new toys, crayons/coloring books.
Drop off addresses: 204 W. Louisa St., Lake Leelanau TCBAA Bulldog Complex (leave under the pavilion 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. now until Saturday, 151 Garfield Rd. S.
Faith Missionary Baptist Complex (under the entryway) until Friday at 5 p.m., 8075 Hoxie Rd.
Bunek Hardware until Saturday 422 W. Main St.
