Extra ECHO - April 2020

In the middle of Chimney Rock, the Hickory Falls Guesthouse displays its fully in-bloom wisteria. Spring is the flowering color season, too!

The following events have been CANCELLED:

• Easter Egg Hunt
• Community Meal for April
• Sale on the Trail
• Community Breakfast and Bake Sale
• Litter Sweep

President's Note

In these uncertain times, I am especially grateful to call Gerton my home. While we had to cancel our March Pot Luck dinner as well as our April events (Sale on the Trail, Easter Egg Hunt, and dinner),our Community has continued to come together in different ways. We have setup a network of individuals that are offering pick-up and delivery of grocery or prescription items for those who cannot safely travel during this time. Please use the e-mail shown below for any inquiries or questions.

One of the regular missions of our Community Center has been to offer support of the Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach –during this crisis we have doubled our efforts to provide food items for our neighbors. Our regular goal is to provide 100 lbs of food per month –I want to thank our neighbors for stepping up and donating 595 lbs of food in the month of March! We will continue to collect non-perishable food items at the Gerton Post Office.

The outreach staff has also asked for items such as Toothpaste, Body Soap, Shampoo, Deodorant, etc., to help our neighbors in need. Board Members of the Community Center will continue to pick up the items from the Post Office and arrange safe delivery to the Outreach center.

In closing, I want to remind everyone to be Kind to Yourself, Your Neighbors, and to use this time to bond with family and reconnect with old friends through a phone call, e-mail, or text. I personally try to use a technique highlighted in the Disney movie “Pollyanna” called the “Glad Game.” It involves looking for the Good in any situation. While this has been a regular practice in my life for some time it has been especially helpful this past month. 

Stay Safe and Wash your Hands!

Stan Mobley

groundedingerton@gmail.com

In the Days of Corona Virus--How to Help and be Helpful

At the March 17 board meeting, Stan prepared the table and we practiced social distancing to discuss our way forward. Attending were Jean Bradley, Jim Earnhardt, Stan Mobley, Karen Owensby, Sylvia Sane (about to arrive), Margaret Whitt (taking picture), and Chuck Mallory (on the phone). We decided the responsible thing to do would be to cancel our April events -- listed above.
We also developed a way to be helpful to the Hickory Nut Outreach. The following e-mail letters have been sent out to all:

How might we be helpful to you:

During these uncertain times, the UHNGCC Board has developed a plan to help citizens of Gerton obtain food, medicines or household supplies if you are sick.

Use this email to let us know what you need:

groundedingerton@gmail.com

We all love calling Gerton home because we live in a community that cares.  Remember to check often on your neighbors and others in our community.  Help each other as needed. 

Gerton Strong!

 Stan Mobley, President UHNGCC

678-428-8521

Our Request:

The Outreach is in urgent need of food to support children of our community while school is not in session.

Specifically, they need:

1. Large boxes of cereal (not individual sizes)
2. Juice boxes (individual servings)

45 boxes of cereal are needed for next week.

If you can provide cereal or juice, please leave at the Gerton Post Office on the table across from the mailboxes.  (Russ Anders has given us permission.)  The PO is open noon-4 pm Monday-Friday.  The food will be picked up daily.

Your Response:

THANKS for your generous donation of 252 pounds of cereal, juice, and other food for the children and families of Hickory Nut Gorge!  Linda and the volunteers of Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach are very appreciative of your kindness.

(From left: Karen Owensby, Stan Mobley, Margaret Whitt) Lots and lots of cereal and juice for Outreach! Together we made a difference.

Our Request:

Other food items requested by the Outreach are CHUNKY SOUPS and SPAGHETTI SAUCES.  (Pasta is not needed at this time.)  

And Your Overwhelming Response:

343 pounds of food, mostly soups and pasta sauces, were delivered to Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach on Monday, March 30.  This donation was the largest one-time gift ever received by the Outreach!

595 pounds of food were donated by our community during the month of March.  

Your generosity is incredible.  Linda, the Outreach staff and the Board are so appreciative.

Linda and volunteers at Outreach weigh in the food from Gerton.

Our Request: 

During the month of April, the Outreach has asked us to collect the following:

• Shampoo
• Body soap
• Deodorant
• Body lotion
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Shaving cream
• Razors

Egg cartons are always needed.

Feminine hygiene products are not needed.  

As before, you may leave donations at the Gerton Post Office.  (Thanks Russ!)  We will deliver donations to the Outreach on Monday, April 13 and Monday, April 27. 

Neighborhood News

Because of concerns about the corona virus, Susie Clarke Hamilton Memorial Service will be delayed. 

Susie Skinner Clarke Hamilton was born in the Biltmore Hospital on December 3,1946 and died peacefully at home on March 8, 2020. Her parents were Jamie and Elspeth Clarke and grandparents were Jim and Elizabeth McClure and Dumont and Annie Clarke. She is survived by her husband Dr. Will Hamilton, her five children Annie Louise (Isaiah) Perkinson, William (Molly) Hamilton, Elizabeth (Fred) Bahnson, Elspeth (Gabriel) Mann, David Hamilton (Hayley Booterbaugh), 11 grandchildren, brothers Jim Clarke, Dumont Clarke, Billy Clarke, Doug Clarke, and sister Annie Ager. Susie grew up at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview, N.C. She graduated from Wellesley College in 1968 with a BA in Art History. After a year of graduate school in fine art, she moved to the L’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland where she managed the garden and met her future husband Will Hamilton. Susie and Will met again in London, England, and were married on March 11, 1972. Susie and Will moved to her hometown of Fairview in 1976 where she spent the rest of her life caring for many children, foreign exchange students and her family farm. Her love of art and people, especially children, motivated her entire life. The family wishes memorial contributions to be made to the Fairview Elementary School PTA. Checks should be made out to “FES-PTA” with “Susie Hamilton” as memo. All funds will be held in a Susie Hamilton Memorial Fund to help meet school needs. Mail checks to Fairview Elementary School PTA 1355 Charlotte Highway Fairview NC 28730.

Thomas Pressley, 86, of Altamonte Springs, Florida (and Gerton) passed away on Monday, March 9, 2020. He is survived by his wife Ramona, Children Rinee and Mike (Lilly), sisters Nancy and Ann, grandson Liam. A memorial service will be at a later date.

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    Neighbors, If you are a small business owner, including a "Gig Economy" worker, here's a link to information about the recently passed Coronavirus relief bill:

https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/9/7/97ac840c-28b7-4e49-b872-d30a995d8dae/F2CF1DD78E6D6C8C8C3BF58C6D1DDB2B.small-business-owner-s-guide-to-the-cares-act-final-.pdf