“I am a very introverted person. This is way outside of my comfort zone.”
That’s Manitowoc resident Theresa Fessler who is coordinating Hurricane Laura Relief Donations destined for Lake Charles and Sulphur, Louisiana.
Theresa tells SeehaferNews.com she has many family members there and her mother resides in Bell City. Fessler herself lived in that area until she joined the Army at age 17. She explained, thankfully, her family evacuated when told to leave the area, and they at least have a home to go back to.
But, as Fessler explained, “Other friends, people I went to high school with, other family members, they have no roofs over their heads. Power lines are down everywhere. They are being told they will be without power for 6-8 weeks in the hardest hit areas.”
Her lakeshore relief effort began when her mom needed a generator for her home, but none can be purchased in Louisiana. Theresa said her mother bought one up here and she plans to drive it to her home state late Thursday and early Friday.
“In the meantime, a friend of mine offered me this trailer to haul down there and I thought ‘Gee, I could do a lot of good with that trailer’,” Fessler said. “So, I started asking people I know, the community, my employer if they could help me fill this trailer, and that’s what I’m doing. Hoping that I can help the people in the area that aren’t as fortunate as my family.”
Fessler actually started a fill-the-trailer Sunday in the Lowe’s parking lot. “It’s not nearly full, but there is thousands of dollars’ worth of material in there.”
You can drop off items like gas cans to fill generators, batteries & flashlights, tarps for roofs, non-perishable food items, baby food, diapers, toiletries & cases of bottled water at 4922 Roneta Lane in Manitowoc or call her cellphone at 920-860-6946. Fessler says “They can deliver to my house…[by] Thursday probably before, I guess, say 1:00 PM.”
When asked about helping others…Theresa Fessler said, “It’s not so much a good feeling in my heart….to me…it’s a drive and a necessity.”
