Donations at Local Church for Those With Losses to Sandy 'Reassuring'

Loren Delutri’s eyes teared as she packed toiletries at the Lacey United Methodist Church.

The church is filled with donations of supplies and clothing for those residents in need.

“It’s reassuring that swarms of people are donating stuff,” Delutri said. “And it’s good stuff…People are going out and spending their money in this bad economy.”

A tree hit Delutri’s home during the storm. She still doesn’t have power and with an autistic child, she needed a secure and warm place to stay and that’s at the United Methodist Church where she is also volunteering.

“The best thing that I can do is stay here and help out,” she said.

The number of families staying at the church is hard to say because people are in and out—many have been invited to find shelter in homes by total strangers, she said.

Volunteers at the church are putting together care packages for children and adults, including those similar to Operation Shoebox for the troops with razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other necessities.

Children’s packages include a “trick or treat” special since Halloween was postponed.

The Church has coats, jackets and other clothing items—“anything these people lost,” Delutri said.

Tonight the church will be serving a corn beef dinner. The church has heat, power, outlets, showers and laundry services.

Breakfast is at 7 a.m., lunch is at noon and dinner is at 6 p.m.

“We’re feeding everybody,” Delutri said.

The German Butcher has donated lunch and Meat BBQ has donated dinner for up to 500 people for Saturday. 

Other businesses such as Applebee’s, Walmart, ShopRite, Anthony’s Pizza and D'Amato Bakery have also donated.