The Dec. 11 ice storm brought out the best of Goffstown – its emergency workers and volunteers. Many of those volunteers were part of the Goffstown Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) that staffed the emergency shelter set up at Mountain View Middle School (MVMS) by the American Red Cross.

The shelter opened at about 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, and soon received 19 elderly clients from The Villager assisted care facility on North Mast Road. The Villager brought their staff, including medical personnel, to care for the special needs of their people. By the end of the day Friday, the shelter housed nearly 30 people.

The MVMS cafeteria was divided in half with tables and chairs set up in one side and cots in the other.

The tables and chairs provided a dining area as well as a recreation area. Games, jigsaw puzzles and reading material provided by CERT helped wile away the hours. A TV area was also set up, where weather and local news ran.

Providing food for those using the shelter was a major task. The Police Department provided pizza for Friday lunch, and the lunch that was originally prepared for the students on Friday was served at the shelter as the evening meal.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, a hot breakfast was delivered by the Red Cross, and they provided sandwiches for lunch. Spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread was the evening meal. Sunday’s lunch was the final meal served.

Some people came to the shelter just to shower, get warm and then returned to their powerless residences. Others braved their cold homes during the day and came to the shelter to sleep. Everyone arriving was offered hot beverages and food.

Several Goffstown officials including Town Administrator Sue Desruisseaux, selectmen Nick Compasano and John Caprio, and state Rep. John Hikel visited the shelter offering help and support.

State Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, himself without power and staying with his son, stopped in and offered help in any way he could.

A lady who came to the shelter with her husband who had only hours earlier been released from the hospital, offered to the shelter staff, “This is a life saver. I don’t know what we would have done if you folks hadn’t been here.”

The shelter officially closed Sunday afternoon, with people being referred to the Southern New Hampshire University.

Susan Jutras, Goffstown CERT director said, “We are very pleased with the smooth operation of our shelter and would like to thank the many volunteers, officials, emergency professionals, and businesses that made this possible.”