The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
LOCALS ASSIST IN RELIEF
Groups gather donations for Hurricane Irma
Two local groups came together Sept. 11 to combine efforts in assisting relief efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Irma in Florida and the Caribbean.
After collecting donations for Hurricane Harvey in late August, Lorain Ward 6 Councilman Angel Arroyo Jr. made the long trek to Houston to deliver goods to those in need where he worked on the ground with Lorain area churches and volunteers. Upon returning to Lorain on Sept. 8, Arroyo said he noticed a large amount of water remaining from his collection efforts with no means to distribute it until a fateful connection the morning of Sept. 11.
Through a mutual friend, Arroyo learned about the work of Amherst’s Family Fellowship
“I want to thank all the citizens of Lorain County because all of this was collected in four days.”
— Lorain Ward 6 Councilman Angel Arroyo Jr.
Church, 780 Cooper Foster Park Road, where members were arranging a semi-truck to send donations south to assist Florida relief efforts.
“So, I had a lot of people reach out to me,” he said. “And this morning, one of my friends was like ‘hey, you got anything left. I know a church who wants to take stuff.’”
After a few phone calls, a semi-truck was on its way to the Black River Landing Transportation Center within about 90 minutes, Arroyo said.
The truck, which can hold up to 44,000 pounds, was nearly filled to capacity.
“I want to thank all the citizens of Lorain County because all of this was collected in four days,” Arroyo said. “It is because of the caring citizens of Lorain County, Cuyahoga County and Huron County that proves to those who always feel negative about the community that we can work together and we came together.”
Family Fellowship co-pastor Sumer Smith told The Morning Journal in working with Gene Lampshire of Trucking for Christ, the group was able to send 32 pallets of water and other supplies.
Lampshire sponsored an additional semi-truck which left earlier in the morning with supplies after Family Fellowship collected enough donations from Sept. 8-10 to fill the truck.
“This is all God working,” Arroyo said. “I want to be able to regroup and see what we have left.
“I definitely appreciate Family Fellowship Church coming out. And hopefully, we will be able to work more with the churches in our neighborhood.
“I am beyond grateful and just overwhelmed. A little bit of everything.”