“I put it out there that I was willing to haul stuff up to NJ for our fellow boaters on the coast that have survived Sandy. And many are now pushing me to put my money where my mouth is. One customer came into my office today and dropped a hundred on the desk and said to get on with it!”Jim Maier of BOE Marine posted on his newly created Facebook Page ‘Boaters for Hurricane Sandy Relief’ on Friday November 2. “So, I’m ready, and I think organized enough to get this going. I have a 20′ Enclosed Trailer and a F350. My plan is to pack both with supplies for those in need.”
By Sunday November 4, BOE Marine Store was full of supplies, enough for 1 large 20 foot truck, 1 flatbed and 2 vans.It took the weekend for the Facebook, boating and Eastern Shore community to come together for our fellow Americans up north.
A partnership was quickly formed between BOE Marine and Chick-fil-A Kent Island as well as a program put in place at Babies in Bloom and Blooming Consignments, Centreville – ‘Sandwiches for Sandy Relief’, whereby donors received a Free Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich for making a donation.Dawn Schultz, co-owner of Babies in Bloom and Blooming Consignments also rallied around Sunday morning with her team and their families at the store to bring over 25 boxes of clothes to take on the Monday truck.
Beth Maier and her team from BOE Marine and Emily McAuley, Marketing Director for Chick-fil-A Kent Island have been coordinating and receiving donations all week long, organizing and re-packing ready for more trucks to take the supplies north.“When I first saw Jim’s Facebook post on Friday night, I felt compelled to help, on both a personal and professional level .I’ve sat on the couch and watched past disasters play out on the TV and could not sit by and let this one happen without getting involved one way or another”, Emily McAuley states. Emily connected with Queenstown Outlet Stores, Carl Scott from Food Lion, Matapeake Middle School, Scout Groups to set up donation requests as well as asking 20 of her friends to commit to spending $20 each in cleaning supplies, batteries and baby wipes, which were to be dropped off at Chick-fil-A for the Wednesday truck. Beth Maier comments, “I’ve been over-whelmed by the community’s generosity and willingness to get involved”.
Jim’s first trip Monday took him to Brick Township, NJ, where according to HLN News on Tuesday, over 12000 residents are still without power. A BBQ joined the 4 hour car trip and fired up to feed several of those in need of a good meal. The Mayor of Brick, set up the BOE Marine Team at a local high school, where the supplies from Maryland were given to those who needed it most. “A friend put me in touch with Bricktown mayor Steve Acropolis. Steve confirmed that his community was desperately in need of supplies so we headed to their town. The mayor and chief of police were there to greet us upon arrival. The most touching moment was watching a mother with nothing put her baby into a stroller we brought.” Jim Maier
Many individuals and families have contributed so far to the donation drive as well as companies such as Bellies, Babies and Beyond, Terry Ober Public Speaker, Arhaus Annapolis, Estate Treasures, Chico’s Queenstown, Kaspers Queenstown, True Value Chester and Food Lion.
Dawn from Babies in Bloom and Blooming Consignments will be bringing her donations as well as the donations from a school as far as Galena, Kent County this weekend. The Boaters for Hurricane Sandy Relief Partnership will continue to receive donations until Friday November 16 at BOE Marine. Donations that they are asking for are batteries, canned foods, baby wipes, diapers, pet foods and cleaning supplies such as sponges, cloths, bleach and sanitizers. BOE Marine is located at 325 Cleat Street, Stevensville.
– Emily McAuley
