Brethren,

I received the following information today regarding a relief effort for hurricane-affected communities in North Carolina organized by our brothers in the Hospital Equipment Loan Program (HELP). A truck has been secured to transport essential equipment and donated supplies this Saturday, November 9th.

Details of the Relief Effort:

A truck and 48’ trailer, generously donated by Teamsters Local 170 of Worcester, will transport supplies to North Carolina. We need as many brothers as possible to assist in loading the truck and welcome donations of essential items, including water, baby formula, diapers, and other supplies. The Teamsters are providing the truck, driver(s), and fuel, so our responsibility is to fill it and send it off.

Schedule and Locations:

Time: 9:00 AM on Saturday, November 9th

First Location: Medical equipment loading at 500 West Cummings Park, Woburn, MA (9 AM-noon)

Second Location: Additional supplies loading at 370 Salem Street, Wakefield, MA

Needed Items:

Medical Equipment: Beds, wheelchairs, transport chairs, crutches, canes, commodes, bed/chair pads, etc. (Details at https://smd-help.org/)
Supplies: Non-perishable food, bottled water, canned goods, powdered milk, hygiene products, hand sanitizer, bleach, paper goods, etc.
Clothing: New or clean coats, jackets, blankets, boots, sheets, towels, etc.
Baby Products: Clothes, diapers, formula, wipes, etc.
Other Essentials: Shovels, gloves, coolers, flashlights, batteries, fans, dehumidifiers, propane stoves, and generators.

I encourage our district and lodges to contribute both manpower and any supplies they can donate. Medical equipment donations can be delivered to 500 West Cummings Park, Woburn, before noon on Saturday, and all other supplies can be brought to the Wakefield Masonic Building at any time on Saturday. The truck will be loaded by hand as Wakefield does not have a loading dock, so extra hands are especially valuable.

The lodges of the Wakefield Building will provide coffee and refreshments for volunteers. If you have questions, please contact R.W. Vincent J. Marino, our main contact for this effort, at 617-957-9928.

Thank you for your support in making a difference for those in need.

Fraternally,

RW Samir C. Bichara