Second Shipment Off to Earthquake Victims
by Faye M. Dasen: Features Editor

As the doors to the 40-foot container were secured, Mary Jo Morris of Pinehurst could say “goodbye” to the biggest project on her front burner.

Since hearing of the January earthquake that devastated the small country of El Salvador, Morris has been coordinating relief efforts.

The shipment that was packed Wednesday was the second container of supplies sent to help the quake victims as they try to recover.

Morris called out the National Guard for help in loading up the container.

“Sgt. Stanley Hopkins of the National Guard received permission from his colonel to assist us in loading the container,” Morris says. “This is the second time they’ve helped; they are wonderful.”

Other members of the National Guard assisting with the effort were Staff Sgt. David Frances, who just returned from Bosnia, and Pvt. Phillip Tyner.

“This shipment mainly contains medical equipment from hospital beds to examination tables to wheelchairs,” Morris says. “There is enough to outfit an entire medical clinic.”

The medical equipment was donated by Dr. Jim Cleary, a retired physician and by Tony Haywood of Helping Hands Ministry. Tom Smith of FirstHealth arranged for the hospital to donate some medicines to be stocked in the clinic. Dr. Larry Baucom, a local dentist, donated ultrasonic teeth cleaner device called a Cavitron.

“They already have a building they can use for the clinic,” she says.

Other items being shipped range from discarded school equipment and construction supplies to a brand new red bicycle and, of course, additional clothing.

“Betty Wardle, president of the Women of the Chapel, invited me to speak,” says Morris, “and soon Burlin and Janet Lowry came with a truck full of school supplies and Fran Raynor donated that bicycle.”

Morris estimates that, with the additional clothing going in this load, every man, woman and child in Ilopango (the village to which the supplies are headed) will have clothes to wear.

Several members of the landscaping crew at the Country Club of North Carolina, headed by Richard Gratton, also lent a hand with loading the heavy medical equipment. Mitchell Garner, Luis Romeio and Jorge Alvarada, a former resident of El Salvador, rounded out that team.

“Toby Johnson, president of the Moore County Home Builders, dropped what he was doing to come help, and Tim Bailey of Sanders Supply manned the forklift,” says Morris.

Others helping pack the container Wednesday included Janet Lowry of Pinehurst, Mary and Bob Morris of CCNC and Dean Holzgraf of Belle Meade.

“I couldn’t have done without Hampton Johnson,” says Morris. “He helped load, clean up and take away the trash.”

An article about Morris’ relief effort appeared in The Pilot in March just as the first shipment was being packed.

“The people who contributed this time responded to the article written by Tim Wilkins,” she says. “This effort came from across the county.”

Dale Crisp and Beth Dent roused the Woodlake area to action and collected a full van of items. Others involved included the Kiwanis Club, John and Margaret White of John’s Barbecue, Betsy and Mike Short, Curves and Hill Realty.

“McDonald Brothers put up a sign in their store and their employees brought in toys,” says Morris.

Earlier this year, local travel writer Voit Gilmore wrote an essay about her work and entered it in a competition sponsored by Princess Cruise Lines in celebration of its newest ship.

“I got a call recently in which I learned I was one of 50 winners who will get a short trip on the maiden voyage,” she says. “I was really embarrassed because I feel like I didn’t do that much.”

She says she plans to use the trip as an opportunity to speak out about the efforts of the people of the Sandhills.

“Only in Moore County could this have been accomplished,” says Morris. “I think we are fortunate that we live in a community in which we are encouraged to speak out and help out.”