Locals collecting supplies for Okla. wildfire victims

UPDATE: As reported in the Saturday edition of the Banner Graphic, First Baptist Church in Greencastle is continuing to collect donations for the victims of wildfires in Oklahoma and Kansas.

However, the needs have shifted primarily to monetary and fencing supplies.

Donations may be dropped off at First Baptist Church this week from 9:30-11 a.m. or by contacting Heather Woodall at 720-3885.

Additionally, monetary donations may be made online by visiting the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association at okcattlemen.org. To donate hay or trucking services for hay, contact either the Harper County Extension Office at 580-735-2252, Tyree Ag/Molly Green at 580-334-5181 or Buffalo Feeders at 580-727-5530 to make arrangements or provide trucking services.

Donations for fencing supplies may also be made to Laverne Farmer’s Co-op/Phil Welty at 580-921-3327.

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One local couple’s connection to Oklahoma will soon have much-needed supplies headed from Indiana to areas ravaged by recent wildfires.

Paul and Jennie Hodgen of Roachdale met during their time at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. Paul is a native of Roachdale, while Jennie grew up on a ranch in New Mexico. They shared a bond as out-of-state students who soon also had strong bonds to Oklahoma.

“We always had a strong connection back there,” Paul Hodgen told the Banner Graphic. “With being involved in farming here, going to school there and her growing up on a ranch and now seeing all the devastation going on out there, we felt the need to help our fellow farmers and ranchers.”

The devastation of which he speaks are the wildfires that have been ravaging areas of Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas in recent weeks. More than one million acres of land have been burned, while four people have died and thousands of cattle, swine and wildlife have perished or been euthanized.

Paul said he began sharing information about the wildfire on social media and thinking about what could be done to help from Indiana.

From this, a two-stage plan was hatched.

The first step is to send hay to Oklahoma to replace precious livestock feed that has burned up in the fires.

The second is the collection of supplies at First Baptist Church, a chance for churches and individuals throughout the county to support the effort and the people of Oklahoma.

The Hodgens, along with Dan and Heather Woodall, are sending two trucks and trailers of hay to Buffalo, Okla.

With plans to depart today, the trucks are going to remain in Oklahoma for a few days, hauling loads of hay and feed from Buffalo to places it’s needed in the region.

“There’s been so much hay and feed supplies donated, but getting it where it needs to be has been a challenge,” Hodgen said.

Another involved local farmer includes Cedar View Farms and Sutherlin Cattle, which is donating the use of its trailer for hauling hay.

The collection of supplies is a way for anyone from the community to get involved. The Hodgens and Woodalls attend First Baptist Church in Greencastle, and the church has stepped up to be a collection site for other needed supplies.

They have been in contact with the Oklahoma Baptist Relief Fund to learn further needs of the affected people.

Hodgen said the focus is “more of the human side of what’s going on out there, as well as the needs of the livestock.”

Through this effort, they’ve developed a list of supplies needed including livestock feed, non-perishable food items, Gatorade, beef jerky, socks and towels, eye drops, baby wipes, dog food and cat litter.

One thing that has been overlooked, Hodgen said, is that with all the lost homes there are also many homes that have been heavily damaged by smoke. For these, items such as bleach, laundry detergent, Oxy Clean, dish soap, sponges, scrubbers, mops and any other cleaning supplies are also requested.

The final needed items are fencing supplies for the “thousands of miles of fence that have to be replaced.”

For this need, steel posts, electric fence posts, line posts, barbed wire, No. 9 wire, insulators, long staples, corner posts and two-inch steel pipe are also requested.

Volunteers have procured a trailer that they will be filling at First Baptist, 404 Judson Dr., through Friday, March 24. Drop-off times are as follows:

• Saturday, March 18: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Sunday, March 19: noon-3 p.m.

• Tuesday, March 21-Friday, March 24: 9:30-11 a.m.

For more information on the supply donations, contact Heather Woodall at heather.woodall10@gmail.com.

The Hodgens, Woodalls and entire First Baptist family are simply looking for a way to help others in their time of need. For the Hodgens, the location makes this disaster especially notable.

“We feel like we have a lot of friends out there who are needing help,” Paul Hodgen said. “We both have doctorates and between us, four of our six degrees are from Oklahoma State.”

For that reason, they’re enlisting the help of anyone in the community who is willing.

“Anyone who wants to help, it will all go to good use out there. Whatever anyone can donate, we would appreciate it.”

Dusty McCracken, of Reelsville, and Andy Sutherlin, of Greencastle, have also teamed up with local farmers and businesses for the same reason.

The two left Wednesday evening for Ashland, Kan., with a load of 22 round bales on a borrowed truck and trailer. After a short nap the two helped in building a fence on a 30,000-acre ranch that had been reduced to a dust bowl.

Their trip was sponsored by Sutherlin Cattle, JAMRR Excavating, Baker’s Septic, Huber Land Control, S & B Auto Brokers, J & K Small Farms, Cloverdale Agricenter, Cloverdale Marathon, Greencastle HSC, Butler LP Gas and Fertilizer and Jack’s Trash.

The two plan to make more trips in the near future. Individuals or businesses interested in helping out can contact Donna Bumgardner at 812-239-8709.