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GRAFTON, Mass. - Ceil Thurber and Clare Garabedian, both members of the Grafton Medical Reserve Corps, were recently honored by the U.S. Public Health Service Regional Health Administrators for their service to the town during last October's Halloween weekend snowstorm.
Both women were commended for their hours of service at the Grafton Emergency Management shelter, which was open for four days after power was knocked out following the unseasonable 2011 snowstorm. The shelter serviced 181 Grafton residents during that period, providing food, electricity and warmth, as well as a place to sleep for those without power.
"Both were commended for putting in many hours at the shelter, making sure our residents were well fed, comfortable and taken care of—sometimes for as long as 24 hours at a time," said Dawn Farmer of the Grafton Medical Reserve Corps.
Thurber and Garabedian are also frequent volunteers at many Grafton events where the Medical Reserve Corps are needed, including local road races and the Grafton Common tree lighting during Grafton Celebrates the Holidays.
My house was without heat and power, and with two small kids, we didn't want to sit in the cold. Both these women made our time spent at the Municipal Center shelter as comfortable as possible. I cannot thank them enough for the service they provided, and am thankful that if needed, the town has a place for us to go in times of emergency. Congrats to both women!