By François Steichen
Connecticut is one of the many states that has sent assistance to western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Governor Lamont has declared that Connecticut “stands ready to help,” and teams from the National Guard to Americares to our electric companies have responded.
One Man’s Fight
A solitary, singular effort is being made by a business owner in East Hampton, CT, southeast of Middletown.
Chris Soule, of Clean Cut Painting, has rented an 18-wheeler and a driver to go to Asheville with supplies donated by residents of Connecticut. I learned of this effort through the good folks at Rule of 3 Brewing in East Hampton. Chris’s campaign is also supported by Ring’s End Lumber.
As Chris says, “It’s probably going to take at least 2 weeks for me to get enough supplies to fill the truck, so I will be taking donations until we leave. The truck, driver, and gas are going to cost about $2,000, and we’re covering that. But right now, the most important thing is for Nutmeggers to donate any supplies they can to our facility in East Hampton.” (201 West High St. B-26, East Hampton, CT 06424 – their hangar is on the rear side of the building). Clean Cut’s telephone number is: (860) 467-4877. Chris’s e-mail is: [email protected].
Chris is referring anyone wishing to make monetary donations to “Save our Allies,” headquartered in Chapel Hill, NC, at: https://docs.google.com/forms/
A Woman on the Front Lines
Jennifer Ramsey, who is in Asheville, is detailing the devastation in western North Carolina. Her “Daily Updates” URL is updated every day by Discover Asheville, NC: https://www.instagram.com/p/
For persons interested in understanding what is going on in Asheville, this site offers a very detailed list of needs, and of businesses and organizations that are carrying out a large part of the rescue efforts.
Photo: Jennifer Ramsey
Photo: Jennifer Ramsey
Photo: Jennifer Ramsey
Photo: Jennifer Ramsey
Photo: Jennifer Ramsey
Photo: Jennifer Ramsey
Photo: Jennifer Ramsey