Shelter Brings Out Volunteer Spirit of Many

After a rare and devastating October snowfall hit the state Kelly Sexton of Collinsville and her young son had no heat, no money for food and needed a place to go.

So Sexton turned to the Canton Community Center, which had been turned into a shelter for both overnight and day-time visitors.

“We would not have survived if it wasn’t for this place,” she said last week. “It’s been a godsend.”  

Approximately 1,000 different people came through the shelter's doors. At the height of the extended power outages, more than 100 stayed overnight and some 300 welcomed a hot meal cooked meal. 

While several town employees had a part in running the shelter, the operation depended heavily on a small army of volunteers who helped log people in and out of the facility, served meals, helped cook, cleaned the kitchen, washed dishes and in some cases stayed up all night to ensure all was quiet.

Deneen and Bruce Lockwood, who helped coordinate the efforts, said there were about 70 people who actively volunteered their time at the shelter. Most of those people were also affected by the storm but helped anyway, they said.

“The majority of these volunteers responded in the first couple days and were in the exact situation as those people they were serving,” Bruce Lockwood said.

Members of the Lockwood family came down to help open the shelter the morning of Sunday, Oct. 30 after receiving a call from Adam Libros, the town’s fire marshal and director of emergency management.

The shelter ran in full swing the whole week. Early this week it remained operational but the needs were far fewer.

In addition to Deneen and Bruce, daughters Alyssa and Kelsey volunteered at the facility. Bruce is a firefighter, at one time was the town’s fire marshal and has other emergency management experience. The other family members who helped completed a shelter management course the town offered several years ago.

Once it opened, the shelter was soon filled with many other volunteers who came from Canton and surrounding towns, Deneen Lockwood said.

Those who helped brought many skills to the table she said. And people did what they could. Some stayed day and night with few breaks. Others were only able to put in a few hours but all were helpful, Deneen Lockwood said.

“The generosity of everyone was really amazing,” she said.

Liz Chach is a regular volunteer at the Canton Public Library and came to the shelter early on to help. She spent time logging people in and out of the shelter, filling up coffee, working in the kitchen and elsewhere.

“I just pitch in where people need help,” she said last week.

And helping was just the thing to do, she said.

“Basically it was too depressing to go home so why not be here helping people,” said Chach, who did keep volunteering after her power was restored.

Kristie Griswold is a regular volunteer at the Canton Senior Center. She normally comes in 16 hours a week but spent more than 40 last week.

Griswold said she was especially impressed with teens who helped with keeping younger kids occupied, sanitizing cots, cooking, serving food and other tasks.

“To me it’s the kids that have stepped up,” she said.

Some put in an hour a day, others more than 30 hours. Griswold said some kids stayed after they had power at home and some had generators.

“I think the kids want to help,” Griswold said. “This week shows that.”

Ryan Glynn, 17, was one who spent a couple days helping out at the shelter. He played capture the flag with younger kids, broke down cots, and even helped cook.

“I figure if they’re going to put this on you may as well help out,” Ryan Glynn said.

Steve Roberto put in numerous hours at the shelter, including helping set up sleeping accommodations, helping in the kitchen and staying up overnight to keep an eye on things.

Roberto said he was pleased with the way everyone worked together.

“I’ve actually been very impressed with everyone’s eagerness and willingness,” he said late last week. “Everyone’s digging in to get everything done.”

Roberto said many town employees also went well beyond what they “had” to do.

“They went above and beyond the call of duty,” Roberto said.

Volunteer said they also enjoyed meeting new people. And although a few minor issues surfaced, volunteers said it was an overwhelmingly positive experience.

“Everyone was neighborly,” Bruce Lockwood said.

In addition to volunteering time, others donated goods and food. Place like LaSalle Market, LaTrattoria, the Canton Schools, The Food Bank and others brought over food that would have otherwise spoiled. Individuals also donated items and ShopRite of Canton was extremely accommodating and generous, the Lockwoods said.

And early last week, when Canton Public Schools Food Services Director Joe Stango of Whitsons Culinary Group came in with food and his cooking skills that gave the shelter a little boost, said volunteer Steve Roberto.

“That helped morale big time,” Roberto said.

Others like Cherry Brook Health Center and the Farmington Valley VNA supported efforts at the shelter as did numerous others, officials said.

“People have been so generous,” said Carol Barlow, who also spent many hours volunteering.

And helping each other is a good lesson for the younger generations, Deneen Lockwood said.

“We’re really modeling something for our kids,” she said. “We have to pay it forward and give back to the community.”

And the volunteer spirit seems to have spread. 

“I actually put my name in to be a volunteer because I was so inspired,” Sexton said.