Imagine my surprise when opening the mail just days after our flood last September and there was a check from Dominion East Ohio Foundation for $7,500.  Knowing we would need quite a lot of money to be of help to those affected, the Foundation Board matched that amount from unrestricted funds.  It was just the beginning.

Let me tell you about some of what the money bought.  Buckets, mops, bleach, toilet paper, cleaning supplies.  Fresh drinking water and pizza to feed hungry sand bag workers.  Two full weeks of food for the prison workers who proved so very helpful to our community.  Donations to area fire departments who pumped out basements.  Money to support the Secret Santa program so kids could have a nice holiday.  And food.  Lots and lots of food via our local pantries.  Rent money, prescription money and utility payments distributed through Caring Connection.

With the help of the City of Marietta Development Department, we helped install water lines to new mobile homes located out of the flood zone.  We helped get new furnaces so families could remain in their homes as winter approached.  We helped local business by providing funds to activities that in normal times they would have supported themselves, like holiday promotions, special wiring for holiday lights and banners to let folks know who was back in business.

All this and so much more thanks to the very generous outpouring of support we received from across Ohio.  Often times the money we had was the only money available on short notice to solve a problem.  And it is thanks to the many businesses clubs, churches and individuals who contributed that the money was there to be used.

Many gave much to the needs of others.  Most of what came through the Foundation was in cash with the exception of Value City Furniture which donated a tractor trailer load of beds in all sizes.  Those were distributed very ably by Washington-Morgan Community Action to homes that were cleaned up and dry enough to accommodate the new beds.

Of course we sent individual thank you letters to every donor.  And every donor will be named in our upcoming Annual Report.  But it is appropriate to thank those companies and groups who came through in our time of need.

That said, here is a great big community THANK YOU to: Dominion East Ohio Foundation, The Sterling Group, Hayes Insurance, Bank One, Selby General Hospital Staff, Bertha Circle of United Methodist Church, an anonymous local business, Skuttle Manufacturing, Marietta Emergimed, Rea and Associates, Advantage Bank, Chevron Phillips, Malta-McConnellsville Rotary, Rotary Club of West Lafayette, ARC Resin Corporation, Marietta Education Association, Newark Rotary Foundation, PSEG Waterford Energy, Ohio Horseman's Council, Marietta City Schools, Marietta Times, Rotary Club of Newark-Heath, Delaware Rotary Club, Marietta Noon Lions, Marietta College Dance-A-Thon, American Legion Post 64, WMOA, Marietta Imaging, Inc. Just two weeks ago, a donation from a Columbus Company, Charles Penzone, Inc. East Ohio Gas Company, Elks Club # 477, the Blues Jazz and Folk Music Society, and the Physician's Assistant class at Marietta College. 

Thanks to these donors and the many individual donors, help was available when needed.  Let us hope we are a long way from needing it again.

Judy Atkins and Jack Moberg thank you, on behalf of the Marietta Community Foundation and the many many recipients of your generosity.