Ghost of Midnight

Vermonters Rally in the Wake of Irene’s Devastation

#VT – Vermonters are coming together to help each other after the disaster of Hurricane Irene.  What a privilege to help facilitate communication, organizing, support, etc. through Front Porch Forum.  I can’t begin to describe all the ways that people are using FPF to seek and provide assistance.  The number of Vermonters we’re reaching each day with FPF has doubled since Irene struck.  I only wish FPF was available in more towns (we cover one-third of the state so far).

Best to leave it to FPF members… here’s a tiny sample of the Vermont spirit we’re seeing again and again…

I recently posted on Front Porch Forum a call to arms for clean up help at our new home in Richmond after Hurricane Irene.  Within 2 hours a fleet of kind, loving and generous people were at the house. Yesterday there were more. Words cannot express our deep feeling of gratitude. Although it has been difficult to be so intimately involved in such tragedy it has shone light on the things that matter most in the world. Community.

For those of you who were planning to come tomorrow morning, it would be lovely to see you and get a hug, but I think most of the volunteer-dirty-work has magically been taken care of.

– Eva Kauppila

In Moretown…

Our home is open for laundry, showers, water etc. We are also willing to run any errands into Waitsfield, Williston, anywhere! Also wondering if anyone needs pet supplies; food, liter, etc!  PLEASE CALL US.

– The Buskera

And in Middlesex…

I just wanted to express my appreciation to all of you great neighbors and local officials for posting important information on flooding (road conditions), heartfelt questions about flooding (how can we help?) and valuable answers about flooding (links and phone numbers).

I also want to thank Front Porch Forum for their extra effort in making the postings available right away. I know they are putting in a lot of extra work to get information out on behalf of many towns around the state hit hard by the flood.

I keep thinking of my favorite quote from President Calvin Coolidge — part of an impromptu speech he gave as he viewed Vermont’s recovery effort after the Great Flood of 1927. I am sure a lot of you have thought of it too:

“I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and invigorating climate, but most of all because of her indomitable people. They are a race of pioneers who have almost beggared themselves to serve others. If the spirit of liberty should vanish in other parts of the union and support of our institutions should languish, it could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people of this brave little state of Vermont.”

– Susan Clark