Siblings feel for hurricane victims; Donate belongings

Photo: Picasa

Emily and Ethan Gilbert are seen here sitting among bags full of their clothing and toys they are donating to victims of Hurricane Sandy in the New York and New Jersey area. Employees of Aubuchon Hardware, Elly Taylor, Norma Arsenault and manager, Al Richard, look on, as their store is one of 121 locations accepting donations. (Times photo by Cherri Crockett)

RUMFORD- Ethan and Emily Gilbert are the children of David and Amanda, and at the age of five and two, the children set aside their personal wants this week in order to help victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey by filling bags with gently used clothes, toys, and boots.

“My mom told me about the hurricane,” stated Ethan. “She told me there was a bunch of kids who lost their stuff. I gave ‘em some of my clothes. I gave ‘em some jackets and boots, too.”

Ethan and his sister Emily, with help from their nana, Maggie, filled half a dozen garbage bags with essentials for families in need.

“I’m so proud of them,” noted Maggie. “They inspired their auntie and me to start looking for things to donate. I just hope someone else can recognize the great thing these two are doing and be inspired to help, too.”

“I put pajamas and toys in a bag,” proclaimed Emily. “Those kids will be warm, now.”

Ethan stated that he was going to go back to school this week and see if he could get other kids to donate items, as well.

As part of a store-wide collection effort, Aubuchon Hardware will be collecting items and monetary donations for the next two weeks, after which, they will be trailering the items to the New York and New Jersey areas hardest hit by the hurricane.

“We want the donations to reach them in a timely fashion,” noted Al Richard, manager of the Rumford store. “People can bring in items for donation during our open hours, and if they want to donate money, they can come right to the register and we’ll help them out with that.”

When Richard saw the Gilbert childrens’ sizeable donation, he stated, “This is unbelievable. It’s hard to believe young kids are willing to donate like this.”

You can drop your gently used items or monetary gifts off at the Rumford Aubuchon Hardware store Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.