Towz R Us continues to support McKinley Fire victims with United Way

WASILLA — Towz R Us has been one of United Way of Mat-Su’s closest, go-to partners supporting victims of the summer of 2019 McKinley Fire since the onset. Their efforts continue to this day as displaced households attempt to rebuild from the ashes.

“I can not say enough good things about them,” United Way of Mat-Su outreach coordinator Michele Harmeling said. “They’re just phenomenal in what they do. Just anything you need, they’re there”

Towz R Us had clearance to drive further past the fire line than United Way during the initial onset of the McKinley Fire. Harmeling said that she heard Towz was helping fire victims as well as the firefighters by bringing essential items like food, fuel, and water, so they were quick to hook up with them to further the support.

“We could not get back in there, so any time I needed help running things like gas cards, donated food, those kinds of items, I would just give Towz a buzz. They were instrumental during that initial period,” Harmeling said.

Towz has continued to be a got-to transporter with United Way, hauling donated cargo of all shapes and sizes to the Upper Susitna region.

Nick Means owns Scrap Alaska Pilot Car Services and he’s also a dispatcher for Towz. He’s been involved in the fire relief efforts with Towz and E.G.M. Automotive owner Ellie Burt since the onset. The three companies have been working hand in hand to drive food, tools, and other donated goods to fire victims over the summer.

“Just pretty much whatever we could do to help out, we were there,” Burt said.

Harmeling said that Towz hauled a former office trailer donated by MEA to a family who’s using the structure as a living space as they rebuild their home.

“They lost everything. So when you pull in with a home, whether it’s a home on wheels or like this old office united that they’re gonna convert into a home, seeing these people’s faces light up and get teary eyes because people from the community are coming together to do whatever they can to help them, I mean, that’s weight in gold there,” Means said. “They’re just happy to see something happen.”

Towz worked with Scrap Alaska which provided multiple pilot cars to haul the large trailer to the family in need. Harmeling said due to the size, they had to haul it after hours.

“There’s nine people in that family, and we went straight to Towz and they got that towed up there for us. They actually donated the entire job, and that’s a big job,” Harmeling said. “They just went head and pulled through for us and that family setting that home up.”

Recently, Towz provided 50 traffic cones to United Way for their drive-thru Stuff the Bus school supply drive which at the Menard Sports Center earlier this week.

“They’re doing good work all around in the Valley for all kinds of people,” Harmeling said.

Means said that everyone at Towz plans to keep donating time, equipment, and other resources with community partners like E.G.M. and Untied Way to fire victims as long as the need is there.

“It’s not about money... We don’t expect anything in return,” Means said.

Burt noted their community support is not limited to this, and they offer aid to locals year round, whether it’s giving a pregnant woman a free tow or supporting local nonprofits like the Kidz Kupboard.

Several community members formed the McKinley Fire Long Term Recovery Group, aided by United Way and other sections of the community like firefighters and Mat-Su Borough officials. They all share the same goal, to further disaster relief efforts.

United Way is seeking support from the community for their all-encompassing support with partners and volunteers, ranging from case management to transporting much needed items for daily life and overall reconstruction efforts across the Upper Susitna area. Harmeling said they’re seeking all kinds of building materials, and people can call for a full list of needed items.

Volunteers currently sort through donations, catalogues them and match them to families in need at a designated donation center. Harmeling said the center is open Fridays from 12 to 4 p.m. and it’s a warehouse located at 28468 Talkeetna Spur.

For more information on how to support United Way’s efforts aiding McKinley Fire victims, call 907-745-5824 or visit unitedwaymatsu.org/uwms/help-mckinley-fire-survivors-rebuild-this-summer.

For more information about Towz R Us, visit towingalaska.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com