On their way

One anonymous woman handed caterer Danny Itzkovitz an envelope that contained $1,000.

Another handed over to Sheriff A.J. Smith a chainsaw.

Barber’s Seafood lent the effort the use of his semi-trailer trucks.

Hundreds of people from throughout the county donated thousands of dollars in cash, at last count in excess of $25,000, and scores of supplies, for the victims of Hurricane Ian.

Under the direction of Smith, the effort collected water, batteries for flashlights, toiletries, diapers for kids and cleaning supplies, and cash.

The three semis, along with Itzkovitz’s Tamara on the Go food truck and another from Dave’s Dawg House, together with a crew of sheriff’s deputies, headed down to southwest Florida at the crack of dawn Monday. They were in Pine Island Monday to begin the process of distribution to victims and the feeding of anyone who needed food.

“We have been really really blessed to not have suffered from these hurricanes so let’s show our love and generosity to our neighbors to the south who have been hurting,” Smith said in launching the appeal. “We’re going to do what we do to show our Franklin County love.”