Driver Ron Truesdale, left. takes a breath late Sunday afternoon with Tunkhannock residents Tammy Fassett and Dick Babcock, who helped load up a trailer full of supplies for storm-stressed New Jersey, thanks to the largesse of area residents. STAFF PHOTO/ROBERT BAKER

BY PATRICK LEONARD

Wyoming County Press Examiner 

Tunkhannock’s Dick Babcock and Tammy Fassett could not stand to see people suffering from Hurricane Sandy.

The couple tried to get involved in some community donation programs but began to feel frustrated that their efforts were going for naught.

Finally, they decided to take matters into their own hands.

The couple went online to find an organization that was looking for people’s donations. Satisfied that they found a good fit, they got to work on organizing a donation drive.

“We didn’t want to just give money or give a bunch of stuff that wasn’t going to get to the people who need it,” Babcock said. “We wanted to make sure we had someone reliable who would distribute what people need.”

Babcock and Fassett found the Baptist Church of Newark, which is organizing a drive to residents who have been displaced due to flooding. Next, they made some calls to bring in what they needed.

“Kevin Zwick of Hale Trailer donated a 48-foot trailer to us and Jeff Truesdale donated a truck,” Babcock pointed out. “Ron Truesdale volunteered to drive. Now we just needed to load the truck.”

Babcock is very thankful for the people who donated whatever they could. He said he wanted to organize a donation where people could donate little things, anything that they can afford.

“This donation is for the little guy,” Babcock said. “Any little bit will help. One guy told me all he could donate was six rolls of toilet paper. I told him that would really be able to help some people.”

The trailer was parked at the BNR Beer Distributor parking lot off of Bridge Street in Tunkhannock before it left for Newark on Monday morning. Babcock reported that the truck arrived in Newark and that the church was overcome with joy and gratefulness.

“The people there can’t believe it; they cried they were so happy,” Babcock. “The outpouring from the community was so moving. It takes your breath away. I’m at a loss for words.”

Babcock and Fassett want to personally thank everyone who donated to the people of Newark. They sent special thanks out to Jeff and Ron Truesdale, the Tunkhannock Agway, and all of the people from Towanda, Wyalusing, Dickson City, Dallas, Meshoppen, Mehoopany, Lake Leman, and Tunkhannock.