October 17, 2024 — In the wake of two hurricanes that devastated states in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic, the Maine fishing community shows resilience and solidarity that define their way of life, coming together to share resources in times of need. Hurricane Helene devastated parts of North Carolina, leaving communities in ruins. Sources report that the total damages are estimated to be about $20 billion to $34 billion, while rescue efforts have been underway weeks after the storm. Many people around the U.S. have donated to non-profit groups, ensuring North Carolina and Tennessee locals get the resources they need to put their homes and lives back together.
Kathleen Kirby and her husband, Jacob Schreiner, are commercial fishermen from Deer Isle, Maine, and were inspired by something they wear every day- boots. Over the past weeks, their idea quickly gained momentum to support the affected communities. The project, which started as a personal response to friends living in hard-hit areas, has quickly transformed into a widespread effort fueled by community collaboration and compassion. Kirby is calling the project ‘Maine Fishing Boots on the Ground”.
Kirby and Schreiner have fished in many industries, from bairdi crab (Tanner crab) in Alaska to lobstering off the coast of Maine. The couple had time off planned for the first time in two years to take a break from fishing. This gave them time to come up with the idea of collecting personal protective equipment (PPE) for those involved in cleanup efforts in North Carolina.
“I saw someone post that they needed PPE for cleaning up, and that’s when I thought of bringing boots from Maine. Everybody I know has extra boots here, so that’s how the idea began,” Kirby shared.