Free kits were assembled after idea by mother and son

Emergency kits will be made available at the Stanley Community Center April 23, after a mother and son auect –

ed by the December 15 torna do decided to do something to help others be prepared in the event of another disaster.

“The idea for the emergency kits was thought up by myself with the help of my son Hen ry,” Erin Plombon said of the kits assembled from donations with volunteer help by the Ed- son Hilltop 4-H club and sup port of many local organizations and businesses.

“Our home was hit by the December 15th tornado," Plombon said. "Henry and I were in the bedroom directly below where the tornado took a large section of our roof ou and we felt totally unprepared for what happened after it hit. We struggled to locate flashlights, candles, matches, etc. We later brainstormed ideas of how we can be better prepared in emergency situations and the idea of an emergency kit was born!”

Plombon said that Henry's task “was to think of things kids like him might need” and that her task was to think “of what adults can have prepared.” Calling the tornado of December 15 "very frighten ing,” Plombon said the kits were a way to address the event and its aftermath while also finding a way to help others.

“The tornado was very frightening and we needed to find a way to cope with the trauma along with a way to help others who may have felt the way we did,” she said. As to how the Edson Hilltop 4-H club became involved, Plombon shared that one impetus was the way many were also personally auected by the tor nado.

“Many of the families in the Edson Hilltop 4-H club were in some way auected by the tornado and because of that the club felt it was very important to give back to the community,” she said. "One of the values of 4-H is to make meaningful contributions through community service and leadership and helping put the kits together is one such opportunity. 4-H is the chance of a lifetime to use your head, heart, hands, and health ‘To Make the Best Better.’” With Plombon contacting Edson Hilltop 4-H co-advisor Andrea Mahr as a first step to making the emergency kits a reality, Mahr then brought the idea to the Stanley Commu nity Association, headed by Kristi Weiland.

With the Stanley Com munity Association voting to provide financial support from the Stanley relief fund for 50 kits, Plombon said that Andrea Hazard of Forward Bank had helped get further support by bringing the idea to members of the local Chamber of Commerce.

With Forward Bank, Firehouse Friends Childcare, and Marine Credit Union all agreeing to be drop ou points in Stanley for kit materials, Plombon said that other 4-H members along with various school clubs had also helped, alongside individuals and the Girl and Boy Scouts of the area. Medical facilities had also contributed to the emergency kit idea, Plombon said.

"Overall, we find it very humbling how many in the Stanley and neighboring com munities are supporting this project and though not named are generously contributing to this project!” she shared.

Made available April 23 at the Stanley Community Cen ter to coincide with the Community- wide Tornado CleanUp Day, the free emergency kits are on a first come, first serve basis “until supplies run out," she said. Should any remain after the April 23 giveaway at the Stanley Community Center, these will be donated to the Stanley Po lice and Fire Departments “to utilize in the case of further emergencies,” she said.

As to the kits themselves, they contain the following, or similar items:

• Plastic air-tight container (28 Quarts or larger)

• 1st aid kit

• Bottled water • Snacks (sealed/pre-pack aged)

• Blanket – lap size or smaller (new or gently used) • Flashlight/batteries • Candle/lighter or match es • Hand sanitizer • Kleenex • Hand/foot warmers • Activity books/Cards • Small/medium size stuued animal (new or gently used) • Toiletries: toothbrush/ toothpaste, deodorant, wet wipes Once again, kits can be picked up April 23 at the Stanley Community Ceneter.