You may recall Hurricane Helene causing catastrophic damage to Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee in late September, 2024. A small group of friends who later became known as the Suffield Samaritans sprang to action on October 4, 2024. Their goal was simply…to aid as many people as possible whose lives were forever changed by this disaster. The Samaritans started a collection at the Suffield Hardware Store and the VFW and in two days filled a 16 foot utility trailer, a 20 foot utility trailer and third 24 foot utility trailer with food, water, diapers, children’s winter coats, hats, gloves, toilet paper, etc… Six men volunteered their time to drive these overloaded trailers to the hardest hit regions of Cocke County Tennessee and the Ashville region of North Carolina.
The devastation they witnessed was beyond description and they described their trip as extremely emotional. Seeing a need for continued help, the Samaritans put a team of three members together and on December 12-14, they flew down to the same regions. They met with Pastor Mark Renner of Parrottsville, Tennessee, and the previous two-term mayor of Cocke Country, Crystal Large. Together, they scoured the region looking for families who needed help and after nearly two days of painstaking travel in a region where most roads were washed out, they narrowed their search down to three families.
The first family had clean, dry shelter but the entire home heating system had to be replaced. Donations obtained by the Samaritans took care of that. The other two of the three families had no home to live in…Samantha and her 10-year-old son, Korbin, needed to have their home totally rebuilt and the Alford family of five could no longer live in their badly damaged shack by the river. Longview RV of Windsor Locks donated two camper trailers for these two families, and it was up to the Samaritans to deliver them! On December 27-30, 2024, four volunteer Samaritans pulled the two trailers using trucks supplied by Enterprise Truck Rentals of Windsor Locks down to Eastern Tennessee for these two families to have dry, warm shelter for the pending winter.
The Samaritans were committed to helping the three families as much as possible. The Alford family needed a new home, and thanks to a number of generous donors, plans for a new home including a new septic system began. With the aid of Tennessee Community Assistance Corporation and significant planning and donor financing from Suffield Samaritans as well as the Suffield Knights of Columbus and Sacred Heart Church parishioner donations, a brand new, three-bedroom home was built and awarded to the Alford family on June 15, 2026!!
All the while, many donations in excess of $60,000.00 have been sent to Samantha to help purchase materials to rebuild her home. Unfortunately, it’s still not complete! Once again, the Suffield Samaritans are asking for your help to raise as much money as possible to help Samantha complete her home before winter this year!!!
Thus, the Hurricane Helene Benefit Concert scheduled for October 16, 2026!! We have put together an exciting group of professional musicians to wow you at this concert! The players include Rick Sylvester, also known as “Acoustic Rick,” guitarist Dave Boudah, base player Rudi Weeks, keyboard player Rick Handville, sax player Mark Legault, drummer Tom De Sena and sound engineer Matt Sylvester! This will be a show you don’t want to miss!! Tickets are $40.00 and are available at the VFW, Post 9544 on Sheldon St., Suffield Hardware on Mountain Rd. and Turning Point Wellness Center, LLC at 1 Mountain Rd. You can also call 860-254-5888 or 860-965-9305. Sponsorships are available and raffle items are also encouraged and welcome!
The proceeds from this concert will fund yet another trip tentatively scheduled for early November this year to send five eager, hammer-swinging, Suffield Samaritans along with the necessary materials to Eastern Tennessee to help complete Samantha and Korbin’s home before winter. Thank you for your generous support and God bless the Suffield Samaritans and all the donors for making a huge difference in the lives of these families!
Making a difference, one family at a time.