A quick update on the MacDonald family- I wish I could respond to each of you individually, but have been overwhelmed with phone calls and emails… all GOOD! I’ve been on the phone for 6 hours straight and they’re still coming in, praise God!!
The MacDonalds have housing in town available to them, and will move into it tonight. A friend has offered an apartment where the entire family can be together, and it’s only two blocks away from the house they will be renovating. They plan to demo the burned home themselves, and then concentrate on renovating the other house. If anyone has LABOR SKILLS to donate please contact us. They specifically need a mason to put a new chimney in, and then there will be electrical wiring and general capentry work. They are needing a dumpster immediately as they are sorting through the rubble.
The immediate need now is BEDS. They have an assortment of air mattresses, but specifically need three more twin size. If anyone has a bed (s) to donate, we will start replacing the air mattresses with actual beds. BUREAUS would be real helpful, too. Also, LINENS (all twin size, and only one queen size) and BLANKETS. They have enough towels and pillows, so do not need those items. They’re not sure if the kitchen area survived, and will let me know soon if they have access to their pots and pans.
I know we are out of the way, but if folks would like to donate FOOD ITEMS (or anything else), we will collect all at our home and distribute it to the family. READY MADE MEALSwould also be a HUGE help. I have an extra fridge and freezer and will bring meals as they can receive them.
If you would like to have your church organize premade meals, it would be a blessing to provide the family with meals over the next few weeks. I can receive meals in waves if organized ahead of time, heat them and bring them to the family as they are ready for them.
They may also use our home as a place to eat, decompress before going back to work.
We will plan to be at the Keene SDA Interfaith Service on Tuesday at 7PM held at the the SDA church in Swanzey, NH and will bring our trailer to load any donations (beds, furniture, clothing, food, etc.).
I requested our local Bank of America set up a fund for them. Checks can be made out to “MacDonald Family Fund” and mailed to Bank of America, 85 East Main Street, Orange, MA 01364.
If you choose to deposit directly, the Account # is 004637894478, and the Rounting # 011000138.
Please PRAY for them- the reality is hitting and they are feeling the strain, yet pushing forward as there is so much to do. Poor Hannah (youngest child) said last night as we stood in front of the burned home, “I want to go home, but there is no home to go to.” Just heartbreaking. On the brighter side, they recovered two guitars, one tuba and one flute which they use in their ministry. Donations of MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS would be wonderful! One of their freezers was accessable and we carried the partially frozen foods to their other house. The Red Cross donated funds and they were able to purchase under garments, deoderant, toothbrushes. I’m waiting to hear if they could recover their washer/drier and will update as soon as I know.
The CLOTHING NEEDS are listed below. Laurie asked me if I could request black dress pants, as well as black suit coats for their concert performances! Can you believe that with this loss, she was thinking of their upcoming commitments to sing for God!?
Laurie also asked for ORGANIZATIONAL HELP- with coordinating foods, clothing, donated labor, donated items, etc. She is just overwhelmed. She also has her elderly father (who lives with them and has dementia) and is caring for him in all of this chaos. Please, please pray for her. She is trying to hold it together, and go forward but she is under tremendous stress. She, and the rest of the family, has thanked us and all of you again and again for showing God’s love and compassion by being there for them at this time.
Thank you all and GOD BLESS YOU for your generous spirits!
Warmly,
Terry Mott and family
http://www.macdonaldfamilysingers.com
There are 12 family members which include 8 men, 3 ladies and a 3 month old baby girl. (please view website above)
Ladies Shirts/Blouses Size Small, Medium and Large
Ladies Pants Size 8-10, and 12-14
Ladies Shoes Size 8, 8 ½ - 9, 9 ½ -10,
Ladies Jackets Size Small, Medium and Large
Mens Shirts Size (3) Medium, (5) Large
Mens Pants Size 31x30 loose fit, 32x30, (three)32x32, 34x32, 34x34, and (elastized waist 34x32)
Mens Shoes Size 9 ½ ,10, 10 ½, 11E, 11, 11 ½, 11 1/2W, 12, 14
Mens Jackets Size (2) Medium, (6) Large
Black Dress Pants and Suit Coats
Any donations of clothes that do not fit will be shared with our local Community Clothing Center where the MacDonald family volunteers each week.
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