The temperature inside the home of Ethelyn Travis, a 101-year-old, and her daughter, Caroline Tully, 82, in Bangor, kept dropping following a power outage caused by a windstorm on Monday. In a matter of days, their residence had become a chilly 54 degrees. Fortunately, community members stepped in, ensuring they found warmth and shelter at a hotel.
Emma Fitzgerald, an 18-year-old caregiver for Travis, was concerned about the dropping temperature. Her mother suggested seeking assistance on a Penobscot County Facebook page. Within just 30 minutes, their plea for help received an overwhelming response.
“It’s incredible how fast this community rallied to help,” said Fitzgerald. “We’re strangers to them, and they’re strangers to us.”
One generous individual anonymously arranged for Travis and Tully to spend a night at the Hollywood Casino Hotel, with another person booking them an additional night along with a $50 meal credit. Additionally, someone is preparing a homemade meal for them.
Tully, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, finds the cold especially painful. Despite bundling up under layers and blankets, she remained cold and uncomfortable. Unbeknownst to Tully and Travis, Fitzgerald was diligently working to secure their escape from their powerless home. She arrived on Wednesday morning with the heartwarming news.
“Fitzgerald got me ready and packed my bags,” Travis shared.
Once at the hotel, a hot shower was a top priority for Tully, and Travis was finally able to enjoy her first shower in four days.
The mother and daughter had lost all the perishable food in their fridge due to the power outage, but donations poured in to help replace their supplies. A family friend ensured their home’s pipes wouldn’t freeze.
Offers of help are still pouring in for Fitzgerald from compassionate individuals. Friends and members of All Souls Congregation have also checked in on them since the storm hit on Monday, providing ways to charge their devices and ensuring they stayed warm.
“I feel like an angel,” Travis expressed.
Both Travis and Tully are profoundly grateful to everyone who extended a helping hand, particularly to Fitzgerald, whom Tully described as a “wonderful caregiver.”
“I hope this inspires many others to lend a hand to those in need,” Tully said.
The Bangor community has united in various ways to assist those affected by the power outage that left over 400,000 people without electricity across the state. Even as of Wednesday evening, around 219,000 people still lacked power.
Local businesses have also stepped up. Mad Kat and Company in Brewer generously prepared and distributed free pizzas and meals to community members. Jason’s New York Style Pizza offered free 12-inch pizzas to first responders and line workers on Tuesday. Downtown Charcuterie in Brewer showed their appreciation by providing free mini boxes to linemen on Wednesday via a heartfelt Facebook post.
