supplies for Natchez

By DAVID PHELPS

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ &045; Loading, driving and unloading trucks is not anyone’s idea of a relaxing Labor Day weekend.

Nobody ever said having family was easy.

That’s the feeling that drove 10 people who made the 16-hour drive from the Bluegrass State to deliver a second load &045; in four days &045; of essentials to the Jefferson Methodist Church.

&uot;Northern Kentucky has adopted Natchez,&uot; Danny Stecht said.

Danny’s brother, Dennis, Boone Janson and Mike Benedetti organized &045; and financed &045; the first shipment Saturday. They got four friends, loaded up three trucks and drove through the night, arriving in the middle of the afternoon. They left that night, but not before promising to return.

&uot;We were driving home, and I said, ‘Dennis, don’t do this to me.’ We were making phone calls at 9 o’clock in the morning,&uot; Janson said.

They got home on Sunday, loaded trucks on Monday and got to Natchez yesterday afternoon.

A group of volunteers at Jefferson Methodist Church had one word, which they spoke in unison, to describe the second coming of the Kentuckians.

&uot;Amazing.&uot;

Mattresses, bedding, towels and easy-to-prepare food made up for the bulk of this load.

If Saturday’s delivery was a boys’ trip, yesterday’s was a family vacation. Accompanying Stecht and Janson were Danny Stecht, Dennis’ brother; Janson’s wife, Sandy; daughter Amanda Janson; their granddaughter, Katlyn Smith; soon-to-be son-in-law Andy Schabell; Pat Flannery; Tammy Reymann and Ann Kuticka.

Boone Janson said that frustration with the government’s response to the crisis spurred them into action.

&uot;We can get stuff done three times as fast, and that’s why I do this,&uot; Janson said. &uot;I’ve been here twice, and some people are still dragging their feet. I’m a doer.&uot;

The volunteers at Jefferson Methodist, who will distribute the goods to the shelters in town, are glad for it.

&uot;Their commitment to helping people is beyond words,&uot; Bob Barrett said. &uot;It’s amazing that they’re coming back.&uot;

Barrett refers to a planned third trip Janson and Stecht expect to begin on Friday.

Local Kentucky television and radio stations are helping the group supply and transport the third load, due in town Friday. This time, don’t expect a measly couple of box trucks brimming with generosity.

&uot;I know we’ll have a tractor-trailer filled up, we could possibly have two,&uot; Dennis Stecht said, adding that the items would be shrink-wrapped on pallets to save time loading and unloading.

Every second they save, after all, is a second sooner they can return.

&uot;It’s going to keep going until Boone quits, I quit or you guys tell us, ‘We’ve got enough, we’ll let you know what we need,’&uot; Dennis Stecht said.

In the spirit of sharing its good fortune, Barrett said the church had gained access to a truck of its own and was planning to ship most of the bottled water down to the coast.

&uot;We’ve got friends and other businesses that can help. You can’t say no to helping people,&uot; Dennis Stecht said.

As for what kind of help this next trip will bring, Stecht and Janson weren’t sure, but they did say someone had mentioned grills would be appreciated.