City Employees Volunteer at Collection Point
By Jeff Maxim, Fleet Manager/Management Analyst

On August 13th, Hurricane Charley roared ashore on Florida's west coast and left behind a swath of devastation across the state, leaving thousands homeless or without power.

The people of Miami-Dade responded to the crisis by donating emergency relief supplies at County-designated collection points. Once received, workers had to sort, pack, and ship the supplies to storm victims. Coordinating a relief operation of this kind is a massive undertaking, and Sunny Isles Beach City Manager Chris Russo believed that the City could best assist hurricane victims by supporting this County-sponsored relief effort.

Over the course of two days, the City sent seven employees and one volunteer to help prepare supplies for transport to storm-damaged areas. Participants included Sylvia Arias, William Foy, Jeff Maxim, Vianka Miguel, Pietro Ricci, Tracy Russo, Susan Simpson, and Paola Villa.

The work mainly involved unloading County vans as they arrived at the warehouse, separating out the goods by type (such as baby items, bottled water, and canned goods) and stacking the goods on shrink-wrapped pallets. It was a hot and difficult job at times, as the warehouse was without fans or air conditioning. All who volunteered, however, worked hard and without complaint, and understood the importance of coming together on behalf of the City to help the needy victims of Hurricane Charley.


 

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