EG Buses, Filled To Brim, Take Off For Hard Hit Queens
Less than a week after the decision to make a bus run down to New York City with supplies, three buses were packed and ready to roll.
Michele Shull had hoped to fill one bus with supplies like blankets, warm clothing, and batteries, to take down to New York City for those most affected by Hurricane Sandy.
But enthusiasm and people's keen desire to help quickly overtook that now seemingly modest idea.
On Saturday morning, three Ocean State Transit buses packed full set off from the East Greenwich bus yard on South County Trail.
Last weekend, Shull got it going by talking to EG's bus yard manager, Deb Murphy, who got the other five OST bus yards involved. OST provides school buses for South Kingstown, Middletown, East Providence, Chariho, and Exeter in addition to East Greenwich. All of them helped with donations.
EG school families heard about the plan and donated. Churches got into the act. And others who just heard about it and wanted to help donated too.
In the end, they collected so many things – diapers, dogfood, toothpaste, water bottles, coats, and on and on – some things were handed off to Cardi's, which was also sending a truck down on Saturday.
"The things we were hearing from people were, 'I wanted to help but I didn't know how to get it there," said Shull Friday. "So, you know what? We're Ocean State Transit – let us do it!"
Update: The buses made it to Queens near the devasted Rockaway area before noon on Saturday. EG Patch hopes to have photos from NYC posted tomorrow.
Mike Bottaro
9:06 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012
This is so cool and amazing. Bravo.
Michele Ruggio
8:50 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
A SHOUT OUT and huge thank you to all the people involved. Ocean State Transit (East Greenwich, Exeter, Chariho, South Kingstown, East Providence, Middletown as well as our sister yeards in CT STA(Griswald,Waterford, Groton, and New London) The East Greenwich School Dept and Griswald School Dept), RI Harvesting Co.(Ellen James), Indigo (Mary Day), Westerly Prodential (Heidi Cenpanciera) John and Deb Wolcott (their connection and faith) Tony Murgo for giving us the green light, the community, family and friends..and to all the OCEAN STATE TRANSIT East Greenwich CREW..You all are so beautiful...couldn't have done it without you....TEAM WORK!!! Thank you everyone.
Michele Shull and Deb Murphy OST
Michele Ruggio
9:16 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
added to above post Electric Boat in Quonset and Groton > (Pat Donovan and crew).
Elizabeth McNamara
9:25 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Michele, if you have any photos from yesterday, we'd love to see them. You can upload them right on this article. Click on the "Upload Photos/Videos" link at the bottom of the video. And thanks!
jeannine
9:47 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Michele, who works at Ocean State Transit, would like to give a big "Thank You" to Roselyn Archambault, who got things started with the Sandy donations from Electric Boat.
dixie josephson
2:34 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
The people are so kind and helpful.my husband grew up in the rockaways .
Will you let us know if any other trucks or buses will be going back ?
Thank you.
Michele Ruggio
6:13 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
Liz Deb has a lot Ill let her know..thank you for everything!
Denis J Gallagher
11:33 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
I'd like to thank our great family of drivers and staff from Ocean State Transit for their hard work and dedication. Organizing this effort was no small task and they did it to help others in need. This is a family business and it is so comforting to me as CEO to see our folks walking the walk here. I am so thnakful to be part of such a great team of hard working people who care. That's what real teamwork and businesses are about. Denis Gallagher