A friend who is a native of Mississippi, but lives in Nebraska, organized a convoy to take supplies to his homestate. He wrote an email requesting help several days ago and then sent this email today:

As I write this e-mail, I admit it’s not only difficult to type through the tears, but it’s hard to put it all in words that properly describe it. Let me attempt…

The e-mail that Kathleen launched yesterday at 9:00 am has had the following result:

• $32,812 dollars raised (includes NTR and Cargill employee match)
• 8 donated heavy duty trucks
• 8 donated trailers
• 16 drivers
• 2 extra helpers
• 8 donated 100 gallon fuel tanks to go in the back of each truck as extra fuel
• 6.5 trailer loads of goods on the supply list and it’s still coming in
• 1000 gallons of donated fuel
• 16 donated foot long Subway Sandwiches w/ chips (ummmm!)
• Gift certificates to all sorts of restaurants
• 150 Emergency Response medical kits
• Countless ice chests
• Medicine
• Contributions coming in from 3 countries
• and on and on and on,…you get the picture.

At last count there have been in excess of 250+ individual financial contributors, 19+ local Blair businesses supporting us with contributions of goods, and a dozen or so non-local companies we’ve done biz with over the years. Several of our customers and suppliers are chipping in in all sorts of ways across the country. Our primary maintenance contractor, Unicco, has loaned us the use of their 5 brand new trucks and have serviced them and the trailers. The plan is to finish the packing in the morning and leave around 8 am.

Through my personal contacts we have established communication w/ the church we’re headed to that will serve as a distribution point and we know the roads are open. Regardless, we covet your thoughts and prayers along the way.

While we’re gone, plans are beginning to formulate for a second trip in a week or so, which will include staying several days and working side by side to clean up. We’re now getting offers for 18 wheel trailers and rigs to pull them for that trip. We’re checking on a larger marshalling point in Blair that will help w/ logistics. The majority of the financial contributions will be spent to supply the second trip.

This all just goes to show that when given a chance, people will help those in need.

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It’s great to see someone who says “we oughta” instead of “why don’t they.” We obviously cannot go with them physically, but we can be there in spirit with our prayers.