'They truly care about other people'

NORWALK — The images were surreal. That was the only way Ron Hamisfar could describe the trip he and his wife, Lindsey, took last week to Mayfield, Ky. The 36-year-old Hamisfar organized a relief trip for all of the residents from that area that was ravaged by tornadoes on Dec. 10. Forget Christmas and toys for the kids. These people need food and water and clothes just to survive. "We hauled down 11,000 pounds of goods," Hamisfar said. "Everything from bottled water, canned food, snack food, ready-to-eat food. A lot of clothes. "Pretty much we got started from Worchester Farms (in Monroeville). I have been friends with him (Luke) a long time. He was making a run of hay. I saw a lot of people wanted to donate stuff." Ron put out the word and the donations started rolling in. "I asked my wife if she wanted to make the drive and she said she was in," he said. "I could not have done all of this without the help of my wife. She was truly amazing through the whole trip just being able to help." The two of them took off on Dec. 20 when Ron got off of work from the railroad and drove most of the night. After a short stay in a hotel they finished their trip, unloaded the trailer and headed back home. "We took everything to the fairgrounds," he said. "It is a surreal sight down there. If you go to the infield of the Huron County Fairgrounds, it was a place that size that was filled up with donations hauled from around the country." Along with the 11,000 pounds of goods they also collected $1,300 in monetary donations. "Basically I put a post out on the Talk of Norwalk (on Facebook)," Hamisfar said. "I told them to bring it to my house Saturday and Sunday. "That was a lot of work ... I will tell you that much. The hardest part was trying to organize that trailer with as much as possible. I did not want to go down with an empty trailer. I wanted to make sure we filled every nook and cranny of that trailer. And there were a lot of phone calls." Once the two unloaded their trailer they took a drive around town. "We took a drive through downtown Mayfield and it is gut-wrenching," he said. "Kids' toys wrapped around trees. Clothes everywhere. They have a memorial wall in the middle of town. Just picture half of Norwalk getting totally annihilated. Seeing pictures is nothing like seeing in in real life. "I am glad we went. Thanks to Huron and Erie counties and the local businesses showing their love and support for people they don't even know. They truly care about other people." Hamisfar also wanted to say thank you to all the first responders and military members along with the utility company workers. "All those are the first ones in line when disasters like this happen but are so often taken for granted," he said. "They are the true heroes of times like this." Hamisfar said anybody who still wants to donate should send money or cash cards. "They are currently overwhelmed with donations in Mayfield," he said. "Clothes are not moving because people have nowhere to put the clothes. Many people we talked to asked that we please remember them in a few months from now and when they get their lives back and have to finish rebuilding."