Haiti relief kit collections go ahead

Leaders of the Mountain Empire Haiti Relief Challenge said Friday the collection of items for personal hygiene kits would go on as planned Feb. 5 and 6, but they urged contributors to be safe as snow, sleet and freezing rain whitened area roads.
“If you’re out anyway and you can help and be safe, the drop-offs are going on anyway,” Blake Frazier said Friday morning.
Frazier, of radio stations WOLD and WZVA, and Henry Thomas of station WMEV, coordinated development of pickup sites at the Marion Food City Friday, Feb. 5, and Walmart Saturday, Feb. 6. The sites were set to be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days.
In Chilhowie, Kelly Spencer-Hill coordinated with Food City to schedule a collection point for the afternoon of Feb. 5. Items can be dropped off at Chilhowie Town Hall.
Items will also be taken at the VFW Post on Goolsby Street in Marion Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless bingo that evening is cancelled, in which case the post will close around 5 p.m., said VFW Commander Herbert “Turk” Johnson.
On Monday and Tuesday the post will be open for contributions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Johnson said.
Johnson said monetary donations are being collected at the Sugar Grove Diner in Magnuson Hotel, Marion, and at Country Kitchen, Rural Retreat.
Donors of hygiene kits or items to go in them are asked to observe the list approved for international shipment. If found in transit, notes and items not on the list can jeopardize a shipment.
● 1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”, but no kitchen towels)
● 1 washcloth
● 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
● 1 nail file OR fingernail clipper (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
● 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
● 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child size brushes)
● 1 small or medium tube of toothpaste (expiration date must be Jan. 2011 or later)
● 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
For information, contact the Rev. Harry Howe at 782-3339, the VFW at 783-7971, or Marion Mayor David Helms at 783-4113.