Murray receives support and aid from neighbor after storms rip through homes
Fetching Featured April 19, 2020
What does being a good neighbor mean? Is it offering a smile and a wave? Is it politeness and concern for each other? Is it offering a helping hand when the need is there? What about moving past two people on a street, and considering neighboring counties?
Gilmer County was hit somewhat hard early in the week by storms. Citizens without power, sheltering in safe zones due to concerns from tornadoes. Yet, just west of us, there wasn’t just concern, there was fear. They had more than just a scare where they sheltered and came out a bit later with some wind damage and power gone. Murray County was hit much harder with two tornadoes confirmed to have touched down.
But as these people spent part of their week after Easter picking up and trying to piece life back together, their “neighbor” saw an opportunity. Easter is about new life, in any way you celebrate it. Restoration, redemption, these became more than just themes for people of Gilmer County this week.
On April 15, 2020, a post went up on the Gilmer Sheriff’s Social Media page, a post asking for a little help to provide for our neighbor next door.
The Sheriff’s Office asked, “As our community is well aware, our neighbors in Murray County were hit hard by the tornado at the beginning of the week. We are taking donations to deliver to a few Murray County churches.”
The post listed items like cases of water, non-perishable food items, hygiene items, and diapers. Despite the virus outbreak, despite health concerns, people showed up and not only offered to take donations, but told citizens with donations to drive by and call, and they would come unload the donations from cars. Maintaining little-to-no contact for those wanting to help. This effort provided for a need, but provided safety for those helping as well.
Volunteers spent two days collecting items from cars on Thursday, April 16, and Friday, April 17.
It wasn’t just from Gilmer though. Citizens and volunteers from Murray, more than 250 volunteers, showed up at Bagley Middle School on Tuesday to help the community recover from two tornadoes that ripped through Murray County on Easter Sunday.
In fact, response from citizens has been so involved and overwhelming, that Gilmer is turning a small helping donations collection over two days, into over a week long effort to support those whose homes were impacted.
The Sheriff’s Office posted saying,
THANK YOU to everybody who has generously donated for the victims of the Murray Co. tornado!!
We are having such a good response, we have decided to continue accepting donations at the Gilmer County Detention Center THROUGH NEXT FRIDAY, April 24th ONLY from 7:30AM to 4:00PM, M-F. We ask that you stay in your car, call 706-635-4625 and ask for Carla or Heather. One of them will come unload your car for you. We are asking for donations of:
~Cases of water
~Non-perishable food items
~Hygiene items
~Diapers
(Due to COVID-19 concerns, clothing can not be accepted)
More and more, setbacks and issues in the recent months, from viruses, to shortages, to storms and tornadoes, people are rising up. Neighbors are coming together. Care and Concern are winning out. A new normal has dawned and people are discouraged from touching each other. No comforting hugs or sorrowful embraces can be seen. Yet, people are finding ways to step up, serve, and offer a hand to help each other stand, to reinforce each other against the trials of the day. A new normal, indeed. But a normal that is shining more and more light on humanity’s resilience.
Thousands donated to local food programs amid crisis
Fetching Featured April 19, 2020
Donations are an easy way to in this time to provide versatile help for community programs who seek to support and provide for our fellow people in our areas. Programs like food banks always need donations of every kind. But when financial donations come in, sometimes it may not feel like a donation the same way providing cans do.
But financial donations are how programs fill in the gaps for needs and variety. If one bank has a lot of one food, but is lacking in another, the versatility of financial donations allows that gap to be closed.
Donations like this are exactly what happened on the Highway 515 corridor including Pickens, Gilmer, and Fannin Counties. The District Attorney’s office of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit has made such provisions for these programs.
Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney B. Alison Sosebee
On April 10, 2020, the District Attorney’s Office presented the Fannin County Family Connection, which operates a local food bank, with a $5000 donation from the crime victim assistance fund.
On April 10, 2020, the District Attorney’s Office presented the Pickens CARES, a local food bank, with a $5,000 donation from the crime victim assistance fund. Sheriff Donnie Craig also presented Pickens CARES with $5,000 from the Sheriff’s Foundation.
On April 14, 2020, the District Attorney’s Office presented the Gilmer Community Food Pantry with a $5000 donation from the crime victim assistance fund. Pictured B. Alison Sosebee, District Attorney, and Allen Triebel, Gilmer Community Food Pantry.
Over the last week we have been working hard placing signs throughout Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties that simply say “In God We Trust”. Not only is the hope to spread a positive message during this difficult time, but to help draw attention to our community partners and resources that are available in our area.
Sosebee’s office issued a statement saying, “Now, and over the past several weeks, our area, our state and our nation, have been facing unprecedented times. The continued transmission of COVID-19 is scary….for a lot of reasons….not the least of which is the financial impact on the families, children and community service organizations.”
IN OUR COMMUNITY WE ARE BLESSED. There are many resources available to those in need in our area. AND IF YOU DO NOT NEED THESE RESOURCES, THEY NEED YOU! Many food pantries in our area have had an increase in distribution to those in need; however, due to shelter-in-place and social distancing, normal fundraising events for these non-profit organizations have been cancelled or indefinitely postponed. They are still smiling, working and serving; HOWEVER, to keep up, they need your help if you can!
Resources available in Pickens County include:
Family Connection:
Tel: 706-253-2319
Web: pickens.gafcp.org
Pickens CARES:
Address: 89 Cares Drive, Jasper, GA 30143
Tel: (706)253-4777
Web: pickenscares.org
Food Distribution Schedule: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 12:00.
Boys and Girl Club: 101 Freedom Way, Jasper, GA 30143
Tel: (706) 253-2582
Web: bgcng.org
Additional contact information for assistance include:
District Attorney: (706) 253-3511
Pickens Sheriff’s Office: (706) 253-8901
For those who are unable to travel to obtain food and/or prescription medication you may contact PCSO Capt. Kris Stancil at (706) 253-8869 to inquire if you are eligible for delivery by PCSO.
Pickens School Food Distribution:
Tel: (706) 253-1700
Web: pickenscountyschools.org
Drive-through lunch pick-up spots are available Monday-Friday on scheduled school days from 11:30 – 12:30. Stop by
Harmony Elementary, Hill City Elementary, Tate Elementary, Jasper Middle School, Mountainside Manor (behind the hospital), Foothills IGA in Marble Hill, and Hinton Milling out Hwy 53 West in the Hinton Community and four bus routes. These are breakfast and lunch.
Also, the Victim Advocacy Program of the District Attorney’s office continues to assist victims in obtaining restitution, refer victims to appropriate public and non-profit partners for services, and help victims who qualify for crime victim compensation.
Sosebee said, “In times like these, the greatness of a community can be seen by the compassion of the community….and as always IN GOD WE TRUST!”
Support CARES – “TOGETHER WE RISE!”
Fetching Featured April 19, 2020
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A helping-hand gets sanitized amid health concerns
Fetching Featured April 5, 2020
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – Many have taken time in the recent weeks to say a special thank you to law-enforcement and emergency workers who are still at risk and cannot always maintain a “social distance” during their work.
Laura Thomas and Green Willow Soap donate hand sanitizer to the Ellijay Police Department.
This week saw another highlight in the community as two business owners stepped up to not only say thank you to those in service, but to provide a real need for them.
Laura Thomas is the owner and founder of Green Willow Soap in Ellijay. Her and her staff have been working hard this week to provide hand sanitizer to the public safety agencies in Gilmer. In fact, Gilmer Fire & Rescue, Ellijay Police, Ellijay Fire, East Ellijay Police, and the Gilmer Sheriff’s Office have all received hand sanitizer for their agents.
Thomas said, “All of the First Responders have received hand sanitizer to help them through their difficult jobs. GOD Bless them and protect them as they serve the people of Gilmer County.”
Laura Thomas and Green Willow Soap donate hand sanitizer to the East Ellijay Police Department.
Heads of these agencies told FYN that the donation has answered a need as they have had difficulties purchasing and providing enough sanitizer during shortages. Creating and supplying the donation, Thomas said “My ladies have been working so hard to make this happen for our community.”
Gilmer County Fire & Rescue has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our private citizens, as well as our local business leaders. On Wednesday 4/1/2020 Green Willow Soap generously donated around 100 bottles of individual hand sanitizers for each of our fire and rescue crew members. This donation of hand sanitizer will greatly assist with our mission of keeping our hands clean when soap and water may not be readily available at the conclusion of a 911 call. We greatly appreciate them thinking of us during a time when anti-bacterial supplies are in short demand and hard to obtain.”
Danny Postell and Huff’s Drugs donate hand sanitizer to the Gilmer Sheriff’s Office.
But Green Willow Soap is not the only business answering this need. Gilmer Sheriff Stacy Nicholson said that earlier this month, around March 20, Danny Postell and Huff’s Drugs donated handmade hand sanitizer as well.
Sheriff Nicholson stated, “These generous donations of hand sanitizer have been huge in respect to our deputies’ safety. We have had a hard time buying it because of the high demand. But Huffs and Green Willow came through not only with the “product” but provided it in a manner that we could give individual bottles to deputies to keep with them. The donation from both was very much appreciated.”
Kauffman noted another donation for Gilmer Fire & Rescue saying, “We would also like to thank The Majestic Bee Bakery for dropping off boxes of individually wrapped cookies. While it is a small gesture of kindness, the smiles from the crews are huge and show how much they appreciate these care packages.”
Laura Thomas and Green Willow Soap donate hand sanitizer to the Gilmer Fire & Rescue.
In addition to local businesses donating, Kauffman said they have had private citizens show their support in many ways. Some of the items that have been donated to Gilmer County Fire Rescue include; N-95 face masks, surgical face masks, homemade face mask, gift cards, and baked goods. Nicholson also pointed to several donations, the Sheriff’s office have added thank you notes to their social media for donations from Pizza King and Mindy K’s Bakery.
Gilmer’s public safety professionals have said they are very appreciative of our local citizens and businesses thinking of them and supporting them during this crisis.