Area men volunteer in Georgia

Bob Lotspeich (left), Archie, and Jake Whiteside (right), Adrian, have continued an annual volunteer effort. They traveled 800 miles to Ellijay, Georgia the week of July 25 through July 31, 2011. The two men and Bob’s wife Shirlene joined other volunteers to help the “New York Says Thank You Foundation” which is an organization of New York firefighters, ground zero workers, and others who were involved in the rescues and clean up of the 9-11 disaster.

Serving as “team leaders” (foremen), both Lotspeich and Whiteside played key rolls in leading volunteers in the reconstruction of a 10,000 square foot barn. The original barn had been destroyed by a tornado in April of 2011. The new barn has 23 horse stalls and will house some 60 rescue animals.

At the end of the construction effort, a “Tool Belt Ceremony” was held to honor one worker who had contributed the most work during the week. Jake Whiteside was one of the six men nominated for the award.

The New York Says Thank You Foundation and workers including Lotspeich and Whiteside will, continue their efforts to help others. Next summer, they will head to North Dakota in an effort to construct a ski lodge for physically and cognitively disabled children.

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