A situation in another West Virginia community has inspired a Bridgeport civic group to help.

 

Members of the GFWC Bridgeport Junior Women’s Club – along with friends and hopefully other locals – will be making a water relief trip to McDowell County in southern West Virginia.

 

Anna Dorsey Matheny read Monday that a water pump broke last Tuesday, leaving more than 400 families, including seniors, without water in the small town of Gary.

 

“These poor people and animals have been without water for days in the summer heat during a pandemic,” she said.  “…There is so much heightened anxiety right now and I can’t imagine having that worry on top of it all.”

 

Some of Matheny’s fellow GFWC Juniors were immediately on board, the group making plans to take a trip south with a load of bottled water. But it was decided that if more people got involved, the trip could be so much more beneficial.

 

Community members are invited and encouraged to drop off donations of bottled water, sanitizing wipes and personal care wipes at the Bridgeport Fire Department. But the donation of time and vehicles is just as greatly needed.

 

“I’d love to find someone to volunteer to drive a big truck down and we could get it loaded up with the help of the community and a couple of us could drive down too,” Matheny said. 

 

After reading the article in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Matheny contacted Lawrence Barber, city recorder and former Gary mayor, who was quoted in the piece. He confirmed that despite organized relief measures in place, residents were still in need of bottled water and wipes.

 

Those items can be dropped off today at Bridgeport Fire Department on East Main Street. Financial donations, which will be used to purchase supplies, can be made via PayPal to bridgeportjuniors@gmail.com. Choose the friends and family option and indicate “McDowell County Relief in the subject line.

 

Individuals willing to make the trip – hopefully Wednesday – can contact Matheny at 304-669-8254.