The worst of times seems to bring out the best in people and businesses.  The Marietta Community Foundation announces that it has received several donations directed to helping the flood relief efforts of local organizations.  Dominion, our local natural gas supplier tells us that a check for $7,500 is on its way to us specifically to be used for area flood relief, emergency and cleaning supplies.  Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. informed us Wednesday that they are sending a check for $5,000 also directed to emergency flood relief.

Skuttle Manufacturing which produces, among other things, humidifying equipment, indicates they are sending a contribution to be used specifically to help in the business district.  And retired Silvesco co-owner John Greacen personally delivered a check in the amount of $500, also directed toward assisting the business district to recover from its devastating losses.

The Marietta Community Foundation has chosen to match the $7,500 contribution from Dominion bringing the total available funds thus far to address the flood emergency to over $20,000.  These funds will be distributed to local charitable organizations involved with providing services directly in the flood affected areas.  Recipients of the funds will include Caring Connection, Washington-Morgan Community Action, area food pantries and local volunteer fire department units.

Thanks to the generosity and foresight of contributors of unrestricted funds to the Marietta Community Foundation all of these contributions will go directly in full to the local organizations providing service.  The money to provide the matching contribution also comes from the Foundation's unrestricted resources.

In addition to the very generous monetary contributions being made it is gratifying to witness the hundreds of people giving tens of thousands of hours of their time and talents to help those who have lost so much.  The true spirit of community is alive and well.

The Marietta Community Foundation was created in 1974 and has assets just over $7 million.  During its lifetime it has distributed nearly $7 million and in recent years has provided about 3/4 of a million dollars per year in charitable resources to the Washington County area.  There are no administrative charges to the over 100 funds operating under the umbrella of the Foundation.

Those with any questions, or wishing to contribute to this Disaster Relief Fund may do so by sending checks to Marietta Community Foundation, Inc. at P.O. Box 77, Marietta, OH 45750, or calling Judy Atkins at (740) 373-3286.