ROCKLAND – They never came face to face with some of the people they helped. The Floridians’ faces known only as they appear on their Facebook postings. Yet, the relief provided by Matt and Sherry Ripley, along with friends John Anders and Bill Grace directly impacted eight residents and indirectly helped countless others.

The four Mainers recently spent a week in Florida, volunteering their muscle as well as their supplies in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

For the eight individuals directly impacted, the Maine crew provided a way home. Irma’s strong winds had pushed, yanked, twisted, and distorted trees in the Naples/Fort Meyers region to such an extent that some driveways couldn’t immediately be located. Thus, Sherry, using Florida’s version of the Midcoast Message Board on Facebook, posted the crew’s availability.

One response came from an elderly woman, whom Sherry ended up talking with on the phone a couple of times. The woman ended up in the hospital, though she has since recovered. She was 100 percent grateful for the assistance, according to Matt.

“She wanted to thank us the old-fashioned way – get our addresses and send a card,” he said. “That’s all we needed, right there.”

In return, the Ripleys expressed gratitude for those here in Maine who helped make the mission successful. 

Two days separated the couple’s initial desire to go with that of the date they departed. Many phone calls took place during those two days, according to Matt. Not one individual or business complained.

“Every single person I called were on it. What else can I do for you?” he said of their responses. “That holds true about Mainers. Just top notch people willing to give a hand whenever its needed.”

The local ferry service donated the 55-gallon drums that Ripley filled with diesel for generators. Hampton Inn gave “boxes and boxes” of toiletries. Private donations went toward water. Mark Miller donated a boat to be taken to Florida.

Other donations came from Coast Guard families in Cape Cod. Things that were intended for Houston but never got there.

They drove 40 hours, including the stop in Massachusetts. They towed a loaded trailer donated by Benner Tree Service along the detours of roads closed after the storm. Some supplies were handed over to the Fort Meyers Coast Guard station, which acted as a distribution hub. Other supplies, such as the tarps, the tie-downs, and the Exacto containers donated by Glenn Hall of Superior Bait, stayed with them.

Garth Smith’s company funded the trip, including fuel and tolls.

Other donors include:

Mark Miller of Miller’s Lobster, Eastern Tire, Lobster Festival, Fred and Deedee Ripley, Ed Glaser, Alvin and Belinda Chase, Mark Tibbetts, and Victoria Witham.

See our previous article:

Rockland harbor master to lend assistance in storm’s wake

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com