Daphne Cares!
After Hurricane Katrina hit Pass Christian, the first responders to provide help were the Daphne Fire and Public Works Departments. They arrived two days after the storm, with help from Belforest and Robertsdale volunteer firefighters, and brought a truck, equipment, water, ice and MREs. When Jim Bradley, a Lieutenant in the Pass Christina Fire Department, was interviewed for Good Morning America, he stood in front of a Daphne fire truck. Their facilities and equipment were lost. Jim and Jeanne's family relocated temporarily to the Eastern Shore after the storm and enrolled their oldest child in Christ the King School. This family seemed destined to have a Daphne connection.
They have a family shrimp business, but it was not insured and the boat is now perched on the top of a hill. Their house was almost destroyed. Volunteers helped sort through the damaged home and found two pictures that could be saved. One was the only picture of the family's shrimp boat, the one Jim had spent his childhood summers on in the Gulf. Jeanne noticed The Frame Corner across the street from Christ the King School and brought the pictures in to determine if they could be repaired. The Daphne connection with Jim and Jeanne kicked into gear. Ceann Wachter, owner of The Frame Corner, contacted Bill Kaiser, a member of Olde Towne Daphne Association (OTDA) and they devised a plan to help this family. Their target was to find 10 contributors, to remain anonymous, who would pledge funds to the family for 3 months. Daphne responded with 24 contributors….all anonymous and all pleased to help.
OTDA serves as a liaison, collecting the funds and distributing the checks monthly. Jeanne and the children have returned to Pass Christian and now live in a FEMA trailer. Their oldest child attends school in a skating rink. Their church and parish school was destroyed. Jim works extra shifts to help his community. The Pass Christian fire department is still using the EMS vehicle Daphne loaned to them to provide emergency services for their community. If you speak with Jeanne and Jim, they can not say enough about how much Daphne means to them from the first response to their community by the City of Daphne, to the sense of community they felt at Christ the King School and the help they received from Daphne families.
Jim has said that when Pass Christian recovers, one of the first things he will request is that the fire department develop a plan for equipment and supplies to be ready to help other communities. Daphne is on the top of his list.
Christmas in Pass Christian
Look for an update!