Springfield Volunteers needed: Please Bring Pickup Trucks, Chainsaws, A Day of your time
(From Lisa Hoag) “Hello Western Mass neighbors,
Though I live an hour north of Springfield, I have sung in a gospel choir in Springfield for 10 years. through the churches, I have met many kind and wonderful people in Springfield. Now our neighbors need our help from all our family of Western Mass communities. On Sunday, I was in touch with a deacon who, although he has had a stroke, and is not supposed to lift anything heavy, has moved 12 families in 24 hours. He got involved when he went down to Eastern Avenue (which was very hard hit) to see the damage. Since then, he has been working nonstop with no help. When I talked to him last night, he had moved 12 families on Eastern Avenue in the last 24 hours. Today he has spent $700 of his own money to do things like put a 90 year old woman’s belongings into storage whose house was destroyed.
What are needed right now:
•Chainsaws and people who know how to use them (tornado-downed trees
must be approached with some care). The city of Springfield can remove
debris that is left on the street, but they will not remove trees that
are entirely on private property.
•Trucks and vans to help families move their belongings.
•donations of $5, $10, $20 to help pay for gas, storage in some cases defray expenses
Please contact Deacon Lloyd Creswell at 413-330-7098, or email him at lloydcreswell19@comcast.net
I have created a facebook page where we will update needs and information as the situation progresses.
We are planning a workday on Saturday. I will post details on this facebook event page –
http://www.facebook.com/event.
We will be working with the network of Springfield churches to bring immediate help to those in immediate need.
Please distribute this email widely
Thank you!
and all the Best,
Lisa Hoag”