By Bob Grylls
Reporter
WHITEWATER REGION (Westmeath) —
A phone call received at the Westmeath Hall Wednesday, May 8 by Melle DeHaan was unexpected and unbelievable.
Mr. DeHaan is the manager at the Westmeath Arena and the phone call was a request to accept donated goods collected for area flood victims and be the centre where they could be stored until needed. About 7 p.m., four pick-up trucks arrived and the contents carried upstairs to the hall by military personnel. The items included commercial products, health supplies and just about everything in between.
Christina Iadinardi and her two young daughters had been flooded out of their home at Sullivan’s Point on Cotnam Island. She received so much support and donations after losing everything, more than she actually needed, so decided to help others. Ms Iadinardi decided to start a collection for all those others who were adversely affected by the flood waters.
Using social media, she sent out a message of ‘need’. The response was so overwhelming, it took many pickups from all the donors in her small-sized car. A place for collection was provided by friend Matt Lemay of Milano’s Pub in Pembroke (former Algonquin College). A more permanent spot was required to handle the volume which initiated the phone call to Westmeath. Ms. Iadinardi had much backing from her work colleague at CNL, Jan Campbell. The two co-ordinated the deliveries down to Westmeath.
As if this wasn’t enough for a person to accomplish, she is returning Thursday to collect names of people requiring administrative support for disaster relief from entities, such as the Red Cross. Another list will be made available for people to volunteer their time to assist with the massive cleanup work needed by those affected by the flood.
