By By ANNA M. LEE Managing Editor
As scheduled, a transfer truck and trailer from Evansville, Ind., arrived in Brewton on Tuesday, Oct. 5, and that trailer was filled with the generous donations of a community several states away.
It all began when news director Bob Walters heard through his church about the devastation Brewton suffered during Hurricane Ivan. Walters made some contacts and soon WTVW had partnered with Evansville businesses and the American Red Cross to hold a seven-day drive for food, cleaning supplies and paper products.
A truck and trailer provided by Meisler Trailer Rentals was stationed at seven different Buehler's Buy Low locations last week, then on Monday, Oct. 4, the truck and full trailer set out for Brewton to deliver the goods.
When the truck from Evansville and crew from WTVW arrived on Tuesday, they were greeted by representatives of the American Red Cross, FEMA, the city of Brewton, and local organizations.
Boxes were unloaded from the truck and temporarily stored in a building behind the Goodwill on Douglas Avenue.
Rogene Martin, director of the East Escambia Chapter of the American Red Cross, said that the goods will be sorted and distributed soon through area churches, volunteer fire departments and other community groups. Martin hopes to reach people in outlying communities who were not able to take advantage of an earlier distribution of cleaning supplies in Brewton.