By Stephanie Loder
An Egg Harbor Township roofing company was among many South Jersey groups sending donations to flood-ravaged western North Carolina to help with donations and repairs in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Employees at Veterans Roofing, a veteran-owned business, left at 5 a.m. Oct. 3 and arrived in the Carolinas the same day with their trucks and trailers loaded with essential supplies donated by area residents to help people in the Carolinas.
Donations brought in from the community were overwhelming, they said.
On Monday, Veterans Roofing sent another truck to North Carolina with more supplies.
They weren’t the only ones donating in Atlantic County.
Dorothy Volunteer Fire Company dropped off two pickup truckloads of supplies that residents and businesses donated during the weekend. The volunteer fire company members collected donations until Tuesday.
Water and cleaning supply donations were being dropped off at GT Mid Atlantic in Buena. Thomas Angulot Jr., a rental specialist for the construction equipment dealer, said the donations were loaded onto pallets and into a trailer Wednesday to head to the Carolinas.
Veterans Roofing is still collecting donations and roofers remain in western North Carolina.
Jake Schnitzel and Owen Naplacic, both managers at Veterans Roofing, communicated from the Carolinas via social media last weekend about the donations given by the community. Cellular service is spotty, if it exists at all, in the south since the storm rolled through.
“We want to express our sincerest gratitude for the incredible support you’ve shown us in the last 24 hours! Thanks to your generosity, our first convoy is on its way to the Carolinas and will be arriving shortly,” he posted in a video, with co-worker Owen.
Their photographs show roads and vehicles buried in mud, homes torn apart and people desperately trying to put their homes and lives back together.
Veterans Roofing also posted about the community’s commitment to helping people in North Carolina and called it “truly inspiring.”
“We can’t thank you enough for the supplies you’ve provided,” they posted on Facebook.
Because the response was so overwhelming, they decided to send “a second convoy on Monday morning.”
“Due to the overwhelming response, we’re excited to announce that we will be sending out a second convoy on Monday morning,” Veterans Roofing posted.
“We’re hard at work; from fixing roofs to making vital repairs, our team is dedicated to helping those in need,” they posted with photos on Facebook and Instagram.
Veterans Roofing wants to collect more canned goods, baby supplies, and paper and plastic items.
Mill Street Pub in Mays Landing also has a drop off box in their foyer to collect and deliver to Veterans Roofing.
Anyone who wants to donate can drop off items from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Veterans Roofing, 2511 Fire Road, Egg Harbor Township. Call 609-966-9050.
Needed items include:
Blankets, solar power lights, thermal gear, alcohol wipes, dry shampoo, meal replacement shakes, bandages, vegetable oil, cornbread, Vienna sausages, spam, animal food, women’s products, cleaning supplies (sanitizers, wipes), medical supplies (Tylenol, Benadryl, Motrin for infants, Bandaids, and gauze), nondairy creamer, coffee. Tea bags, sugar, paper plates, paper towels, hot hands, gloves by 10 pack, dishwashing detergent, women and men’s underwear, wipes, bungee cords, shake meals, usable shoes, crocs, sneakers, Inexpensive can openers, snacks (beef jerky, sunflower seeds, nuts, fruit snacks, trail mix, pretzels, food that travels well) and children’s underwear and socks (new only).
Stephanie is a freelance writer with 40 years experience covering NJ news for The Asbury Park Press, The Courier Post, The Catholic Star Herald and The Press of AC. Email her at stephanieloder59@hotmail.com
