I recently had the privilege to witness firsthand many, many acts of kindness.  We had the privilege of organizing a relief effort to aid those in Alabama whose lives have been totally torn apart after the tornados ravished their towns.  What transpired was amazing and through the efforts of these patriots, hopefully, we will make a difference and provide some hope and supplies to these affected areas.  I would like to give thanks to the following businesses and individuals.

Healthlink - for a pallet of medical supplies.

Baymeadows Moving and Storage - for providing a truck to pick up the pallet from Healthlink and deliver it to the trailer, for the loan of a pallet jack to help with loading the trailer and for all the boxes to package up the supplies.

Sports Mania, Lera Plastics, AA Fiberglass - for offering an off-site for people to drop off donations.

Suddath - for the use of their SAMS at the drop off locations.

Ft. Caroline Christian Church - for the use of their property to park the trailer.

Frank Houpt - for delivering an entire pallet of water.

Michael Jackson - for donating a wood chipper.

Chip King - for building 16 awesome crates for the truck to put the supplies and cardboard boxes in, the use of a forklift and all the hours he spent running errands and keeping things organized.

Leanne King (I love that there are two of us, keeps people confused) - for organizing the volunteers.

The volunteers who toiled in the hot sun for three days from 8-8 sorting clothes, organizing the crates, unloading cars, sorting the donations into the proper crates, my heartfelt thanks go to each and everyone of you:  Tom Wing, Debbie Gonzalez, Diane Powers, Carole McManus, Tom Duncan, Jeff Perry, James Kring, Joshua Warren, Lori Loschiavo, Leanne King, Dale O'Brien, Jane Carr, Roma Cox, Tom Cox, Jacqueline Cottingham, Drew King, Joan Secrest and a few that were just dropping off stuff and offered to help.  A special thank you to Tom W., Tom D., Joshua, Lori and Drew for all the additional hours you put in.  If I missed anyone, please accept my sincere apology.

To everyone who dropped off supplies.  We filled a 53' trailer!!!!!!!!  A good majority of the donations came from people who saw the sign on Ft. Caroline Road and stopped.

Hailey Winslow - the Channel 4 reporter who came on Saturday and did a wonderful job of reporting this in such a positive light.  She was so moved by this effort that she is trying to find a way to go to Alabama and help in this effort.  She tried to get a ride over on the truck, but insurance issues wouldn't permit it.

John Sanders - the man who made this all possible by donating his truck and trailer.  You are the best.

The person who has offered to pay for the gas and asked to remain anonymous.  (p.s. you have others who have asked to help you pay for the gas)

While I am proud of what happened, and I can assure you tears flowed as that big rig pulled out of the parking lot, this is just a small part of what is needed there.  I hope that we will continue to be able to help them in their recovery efforts.  God bless.

LeAnne King