Dorothy has owned and operated ‘Home Goods’ in Margaretville, NY for fifteen years. When Hurricane Irene hit in late August, her village was one of the hardest hit. Dorothy immediately saw a need, and like her mother, stepped in: “We just started running around and doing stuff. We didn’t need titles or status. We were just happy to stay under the radar.”
One of the local newspapers called Dorothy ‘Margaretville's indefatigable flood relief volunteer organizer’.
Even two months later, Dorothy was continuing the effort:
“We continue to need help with cleaning out, ripping out sheetrock and paneling, and with assisting the Sweep Team and the Volunteer Center.
We need people to help with furniture pick-up and delivery. Any people w/ trucks would be great.
We are still in need of sofas and easy chairs that are in excellent shape.”
Dorothy, embarrassed by all of the media attention, made sure that she always stressed that it was a community effort, with many different people helping.
This December, the Shopmargaretville merchants’ group honored Dorothy by asking her to perform the tree lighting in Margaretville. For the small town, it was a way to show that Hurricane Irene had changed many things, but many things remained the same, indeed became stronger.
To paraphrase from ‘The Grinch Who Stole Christmas’:
‘Hurricane Irene hadn't stopped Christmas from coming, it *came*! Somehow or other... it came just the same.’
I am delighted to say that I have known Dorothy all of her life! In fact I think I may have , in a way, influenced her birth! When Sue was born, Leona was over every day she could spare to hold Sue and help me1 In fact, when I was in labor she came rushing over with a piece of custard pie! She said she hadn't had such a good time since Joe was a baby! So time went by and presently she said that she , too was expecting! Therefore, Susan, born February 22, 1951 was the forerunner to Dor, born that Christmas!! And a Happy Birthday, Dor!
ReplyDeleteI think of Dorothy as able to do just about anything, so I'm not at all surprised that she took over a big part of rehabilitating her town. They're so lucky to have her!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard before some of the details in my Mom's message above. I'm quite flattered to be the forerunner to Dorothy!
I want to send an early Happy Birthday to two of my "Crazy Cousins" who are celebrating milestone birthdays in a couple of days. Both Dorothy Maffei (on Christmas) and Kathy Taylor Mills (on December 26) are celebrating big 6-0's. I hope that, for both, this is the start of the best decade yet. Baby Julie Lochner Riber will follow up about six weeks later. What a gorgeous gaggle of cousins we are!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Dorothy and Kathy ! Merry Christmas too-I enjoyed the little story that CB shared influencing Dorothy's birth. I just realized that Sue, Kathryn, Dorothy Kathy and myself were all born in 1951. I can hardly believe we are all 60. Happy Birthday to Julie who will be 60 shortly. I wish all the family Bloggers a very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year. All My Love-Joyce
ReplyDeleteSo many very cool people are turning sixty years old!! I guess I can look forward to that in six years or so.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to all of you--Love you so much, even the cousins I have not yet met!
Love,