By Wally Kennedy
wkennedy@joplinglobe.com
Thousands of pounds of supplies, including tents, cookstoves and medical equipment, left Joplin on Wednesday bound for Haiti.
“We are providing what they need most — food, medical supplies and shelter,’’ said Len Clevenger, a local organizer of a Haiti relief effort. “We have one RV and trailer en route and a truck getting ready to leave.’’
Vehicles will be driven to Miami, Fla., where a humanitarian organization known as OceansWatch will transport the supplies at no charge via ship to Haiti.
The trailer is packed with tents and camping gear acquired from a Coleman’s Outlet in Branson. Terry Gribble, a nurse practitioner who lives in Joplin, and Jesse Montgomery, Stark City, are handling part of that shipment.
Another vehicle, manned by Janet and Bill Montgomery, of Stark City, and Max Simmons, Lamar, also will take down camping gear, plus medical supplies from Watered Gardens and two large tents from Joplin Tent Rental, 106 S. Joplin Ave., formerly Coglizer Tent and Awning Co.
George Heim, owner of Joplin Tent Rental, donated two 30-foot by 60-foot, push-pole tents. Clevenger said the tents will be used to expand the treatment area of a hospital near Port-au-Prince.
“The Coleman Outlet continued their 40 percent off sale from January into February for us,’’ Janet Montgomery said. “Bass Pro also contributed some tents. We have 131 four-, six- and eight-person tents.
“We also have dual-fuel stoves and lanterns. They can burn unleaded gas,’’ she said.
Material picked up from Watered Gardens included walkers, crutches, portable toilets and light blankets. Medical supplies and sheets also are being sent.
Clevenger said money will be sent to relief workers in Haiti to buy food in bulk, mostly rice and beans.
A five-member relief team associated with the local Haiti Relief Fund and its new Web site, joplinhelpshaiti.com, will leave Saturday for Haiti. They also will be carrying with them medical supplies and money to purchase food.
Cargo lift
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on Wednesday said the Missouri National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing is sending a C-130 cargo aircraft and an 11-member crew to Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina in support of Haiti relief operations. The cargo plane will support Operation Unified Response.
