HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton Police Department has joined forces with the non-profit group Aid for Kids to collect supplies for those in the greater Texas area affected by Hurricane Harvey.
“Community supporting community is an important and critical part our nation’s values,” said Houlton Police Chief Tim DeLuca. “Considering the vast amount of devastation as a result of Hurricane Harvey, we as individuals wish to share in the recovery efforts by giving a hand, especially to our children. Aid for Kids can make that happen. I can only imagine the struggles families, individuals and public safety are having.”
Aid for Kids is a Houlton-based nonprofit group created by Dawn Degenhardt and is run locally by volunteers Danette Ellis, Marilyn Roper and Desiree Ellis. It’s goal is improving life for children and families worldwide, with a focus on sponsoring programs in Vietnam, Haiti, and Lesotho, Africa.
“Hartt Transportation (of Bangor) has generously agreed to transport all items collected to Texas and they would like to do this in the next two weeks,” said Danette Ellis. “So if people could get things in as quickly as possible that would be great. I will have a trailer parked in the Aid for Kids yard later this week that we can load all donations into.”
“Houlton — a community of giving — can reach out in this manner and give what we can in direct support of those in need and hopefully make a difference,” DeLuca added. “This effort will directly make a difference and circumvent the ‘red tape.’”
Among the items being collected are: new undergarments (all sizes, children and adult), new socks (all sizes, children and adult), toiletries (shampoo, face wash, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.), bed pillows, blankets, bleach, sunscreen, lip balm, bug spray, baseball caps, foot powder, Clorox wipes, 3M N95 face masks, paper towels, shovels, chainsaws, cleanup supplies, contractor trash bags, mops and buckets, utility knives, big floor squeegees, leather work gloves, inflatable mattresses, hand sanitizer, box fans, baby bottles, baby formula, diapers and toilet paper.
Items can be dropped off at the Aid for Kids Distribution Center at 120 Military St. on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.; Thursday 8 a.m. until 12 p.m.; or Friday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. or 24-hours a day at the Houlton Police Department at 97 Military St.
For more information, call Ellis at 532-4107 or my email her at dmellis@myfairpoint.net.
