FAIRMONT, W.Va. – A group of area companies is mobilizing to help those devastated by multiple tornadoes in Kentucky.
Parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee were hit, but Kentucky sustained most of the damage. As of Monday afternoon, there were more than 60 fatalities ranging in age from 5-months to 86-years-old.
Fairmont-based WS Thomas Transfer is part of a group collecting supplies. Operations Manager George Able said they’ll collect items this week and then take them to Kentucky next weekend.
“We want to help those people down there and we’re asking for anybody that wants to contribute cleaning supplies, non perishable products or building materials,” Able said during an appearance Monday on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.”
Collection points are at WS Thomas at 1854 Morgantown Avenue in Fairmont or Fritz’s Rugratz Daycare at 13 Opal Drive in White Hall.
Other needs include new items like clothes, mattresses, clean empty plastic tote boxes, tarps and toys since Christmas is about two weeks away. Cash donations can be made by checks payable to the Kentucky Finance Administration in care of the Western Kentucky Relief Fund.
“We have Harrison Services here in Marion County, it’s a warehouse. they’re going to help us (put the items on pallets) and transferring this product onto these trailers.” Able said.
In a matter of seconds, several communities in western Kentucky were reduced to rubble. Some families lost all possessions, homes, cars, businesses and even lives.
“Anything that help those people down there, they’ve lost everything, so anything imaginable you can put in your home we’re willing to haul down there to them,” Able said. “It may take one or two trucks, maybe three. But, we’re willing to do what we need to do to help those people out.”
Able said the supplies will be transported to Mayfield, Kentucky on Saturday, so donations must be received this week.
“Saturday morning by 10 a.m. is the latest we’d like to have it, so that truck can pull out of here Saturday morning,” Able said.
Able is encouraging church groups, civic groups and individuals to pool resources over the next few days to get as many supplies on trailers as possible.
“The meaning of Christmas is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s birthday and there is a Santa Claus,” Able said. “I think there’s a Santa Claus in all of us- it’s in our heart.”