- By Dan Veaner
- Around Town
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This isn't the first time the group has helped those in need. "It started as a group of parents and grandparents who wanted to teach our children how to give to those in need," said Amelia Massi, one of the organizers. "We were in a prayer group that was ecumenical, many different faiths coming together, and in 1998 we did our first project. We've helped children. We found out about needs in Ecuador. That's when the banks failed and the kids needed food." Ms. Massi's cousin Angela McAtee, of Mobile told the women about the devastation along the Alabama coast, especially in Bayou La Batre. "If you've seen Forrest Gump, that's where Bubba was from. That's where it's all going. They've lost their boats, their shrimp. The hurricane destroyed the shrimping bed. It takes up to four years for those to come back. Initially the people were sleeping on the ground under tarps and cooking on rocks."
Ms. Demarest noted, "Look right here at our sons. Can you imagine that for them? It would be horrific."
The organizers, Nancy Preston of Ithaca, and Lansing's Amelia Massi and Rita Demarest, and their children could be found at the Ithaca Armory on Warren Road with Palettes full of donated items. The point of Reachout 2000 is to teach children about giving by involving them in doing it. Ms. Demarest explained, "Our kids have so much here. In order to teach them to give, we have to show them. We never do it unless we are 100% sure that the product and the money will get into the hands of the people who need it. It's not going to sit in a warehouse anywhere. It is literally being brought from this doorstep to their doorstep. We got the list (of what is needed) specifically from them. They said they didn't want any money. That's amazing!"
Ms. Mazzi added, "They said don't send us money. We don't have any stores, we don't have any banks, we don't have anything."
Devastated Alabama residents asked for stoves, sleeping bags, undergarments, mops, formula for infants, generators and blankets, among other things. They requested bleach to get rid of the mold in the 93 degree, wet weather. In order to get everything that was needed the local group made three different "wish lists" that were distributed to different groups around the Ithaca area.
On Saturday the group had a pizza party for "Make a Difference Day." "We're having pizza and water, our version of bread and water, because that's basically what the kids are having down there. Somebody in the community was nice enough to give us pizza for a hundred people," exclaimed Ms. Demarest.
Businesses offered help to the group as well. Balio/ B&R Trucking of Utica donated a truck and driver, Wegmans donated palettes, boxes and shrink wrap, and Gnomon copied donated all the copying for flyers and wish lists. The Army donated 15,000 sheets of paper for flyers and donated the space at the Armory. School districts distributed the notices, as well as businesses and individuals.
The local community stepped up, and the group's goals were met. "We sent 23 pallets (which was our goal) and we also sent 40 mops and brooms, some crutches and even some cargo in the cab," says Ms. Massi. "It truly was a miracle how it all came together at the end. The driver will be able to get the items there by mid morning on Saturday, (another miracle) which is a great day to unload the truck in terms of volunteer power on the Alabama end. We also will send a couple boxes via mail which came in after the truck had left. Altogether, we received 9 boxes of religious vestments and altar items which we only had dreamed of getting. We were able to send many medications, some even prescription."
The group collected items right down to the wire. "The kids have to feel the love here," said Ms. Demarest. "That's why we're doing this, so the kids can feel the love. They can get their hands dirty, they can sweat. If it's cold they're going to be cold and if it's hot they're going to be hot and if it's raining they're going to be wet. Because those kids down in Alabama have that." And soon they'll have at least some of the things they need.
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