Lori Smith Zentz

Robin McAfee of Sabillasville was moved by the story she heard from her friend Kristen Lawyer of Thurmont. Kristen told her the story of the Necaise family, fellow corn maze operators in Mississippi, who had lost their livelihood. They were living in a motel room and didn’t know to do next. The family’s crops and corn maze were completed destroyed, two barns and animals were gone, and their house was badly damaged.

Robin had already been working with fellow church members on how to help the devastated area. Now she had a person they could help, so she and her husband Tim, along with Dan and Jeanette Linton and Anglelo Diloretto decided to take a trailer full of relief supplies for the Necaise family in Kiln and take some relief and perhaps a little hope.

In quick fashion they gathered donations of household items, clothing, toiletries, cleaning supplies, school supplies, toys, food and monetary gifts. Kristen Lawyer even found three rabbits for the Necaise family children to love since all of their pets and farm animals were lost in the storm. Catoctin Mountain Orchard donated cases of apples. The donations were stored at the Lawyer’s farm. "Kristen was really the mastermind of the relief drive," said Robin. She made many phone calls and connections in order for this to happen.

The group, all members of Emmanuel Bible Church of Frederick, left Sabillasville on September 24, 2005 on their relief mission and were met with open arms. They visited Maurice and Stacey Necaise and their two sons. They toured the area and were shocked by what they saw — and by what they didn’t see. Complete houses were gone and rubble was everywhere. Trees were brown from the 25 foot saltwater storm surge. It was a war-zone without the war. Stacey showed them the damage at the area schools including two schools which are completely unusable.

The Emmanuel Bible Church members distributed monetary donations by giving $1,000 to Crane Creek Baptist Church for the repair of their building; $500 to the Necaise family toward barn restoration and/or helping other families in the community; and a little over $500 was put into a fund to benefit students in need in the Hancock school district.

Donations were made by Emmanuel Bible Church – Frederick, Robinwood Church of God – Hagerstown, Mt. Pleasant Church of God – Smithsburg, Living Word Academy - Blue Ridge Summit, Catoctin Mountain Orchard – Thurmont, Putman Plumbing – Middletown, Southern States - Woodsboro (rabbit food), Tuscarora Elementary School – Frederick, ACE Hardware – Thurmont, Home and School Connection – Frederick, G.T.’s Handimart - Blue Ridge Summit, HOPE Homeschool group – Thurmont, Sabillasville Elementary School- Sabillasville, Thurmont Elementary School - Thurmont Thurmont Primary School – Thurmont, Jim Kline - use of trailer, and Gene Rice - 3 rabbits. "Many other individuals gave supplies and monetary donations and many helped with food for the trip, packing, loading, and praying!" said Robin.

Future trips to complete construction projects are planned by the Emmanuel Baptist Church group.

Upon their return, the McAfees and the Lintons visited with members of the town of Thurmont’s Katrina Relief committee to share stories and photographs of their trip.

The Waveland, Mississippi area is the adopted town/area for the town of Thurmont Katrina Relief Drive.