Convoy of Hope responds to Hurricane Irene

Springfield-based nonprofit Convoy of Hope has deployed disaster response team members to New England states to aid flood victims of Hurricane Irene.

The organization first responded Aug. 26 in North Carolina, and crews have since worked their way toward New Jersey and Vermont, according to a news release.

Responding to a call for help by the Vermont Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, Convoy of Hope on Aug. 29 sent a truck containing 40,000 pounds of water, meals, flood buckets, paper products and cleaning supplies to Brattleboro, Vt. The materials are being distributed to help residents of Woodstock, Wilmington, Jamaica Village, Grafton, Windsor and Manchester.

“While our work continues in Joplin and Japan, we will also be at work in the states affected by Hurricane Irene and provide needed relief products, supplies and assistance," said Jeff Nene, Convoy of Hope's senior director of public relations, in the release.

Additional supplies are on standby to send to hurricane victims if the need arises.