Gilford church seeking donations for disaster clean-up buckets

GILFORD — During February and March, First United Methodist Church Gilford invites you to participate in collecting materials to assemble disaster clean-up buckets. The completed clean-up buckets help those affected by floods, hurricanes and other catastrophes to begin the overwhelming job of clean-up. The United Methodist Committee on Relief distributes the buckets and the need is particularly great after recent wildfires and tornadoes.

The clean-up buckets are five-gallon round buckets with a lid that contain 14 specific items such as 32–64 oz. bottle liquid laundry detergent and 4–8 oz. pump spray air freshener. Lakes Region residents can help by purchasing any or all of the specific items (see list below) to complete a bucket or by providing monetary donations.

Materials can be left on the bench inside the church back door to the office between now and March 25. The church is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Monetary donations may be mailed to PO Box 7408, Gilford, NH 03247, or dropped off in the church office. If giving a donation, be sure to mark checks or cash in an envelope with “UMCOR kits.”

On March 27, volunteers at the church will pack the buckets with the donated items and deliver the completed buckets to UMCOR. The church is located at 18 Wesley Way, off Rt. 11-A near the 3/11 bypass.

For further information about donating or volunteering, call the church at 603-524-3289 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Leave a message if the phone is not answered and we will get back to you. You may also visit the website nhhope.org/serve.

List of disaster clean-up bucket materials

The 15 items needed to complete a clean-up bucket. When completing a bucket, do not secure the lid.

1. One five-gallon round bucket with lid (14.35” h x 12.19” w x 12.19” d)

• No screw lids

• May be used, but must be free from all residual product

2. One 32–64 oz. bottle liquid laundry detergent

3. One 16–40 oz. bottle liquid concentrate household cleaner

• No spray cleaners

4. One 16–34 oz. bottle liquid dish soap

5. One 4–8 oz. pump spray air freshener

6. One 6–14 oz. pump spray insect repellant (pack of 10–20 wipes also acceptable)

• Pump spray bottles must have protective covers

7. One scrub brush

• With or without handle

8. 18 re-usable cleaning wipes

• No terrycloth, microfiber or paper towels

9. Five scouring pads

• No stainless steel or pads with soap in them

10. 36–50 clothespins

11. One 50–100 ft. clothesline (cotton or plastic line)

12. Roll of 24 heavy-duty trash bags (33–45 gallon sizes)

• Remove from packaging

13. Five N95 or KN95 particulate respirator dust masks (1–3 mm thickness)

• No surgical masks

14. Two pairs of kitchen gloves

• Durable for multiple

• Remove from packaging

15. One pair of work gloves

• Cotton with leather palm or all leather