March 19, 2020 in Regional

TENNESSEE FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES HAND SANITIZERS FROM STASH STOCKPILED BY BROTHERS

Several boxes and hand sanitizers have been delivered to a fire department in Tennessee after two brothers who tried to capitalize on the coronavirus outbreak by stockpiling nearly 18,000 bottles with the intent to resell the goods had their stash cleaned out.

The Chattanooga Fire Department said on Facebook it received a donation of sanitizing products after a “viral story” about individuals who “purchased thousands of those items.”

“A portion went to first responders,” the fire department said. “We are grateful to have these supplies on hand right now in an effort to keep our crews healthy.”

Matt and Noah Colvin drew widespread fury over the weekend after their effort was profiled, in which they were revealed to have cleared out hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes from stores around Chattanooga and parts of Kentucky.

But on Sunday, Matt Colvin helped volunteers from a church place two-thirds of his massive supply onto a truck destined to deliver the products to Tennesseans in need.

The remaining third reportedly was seized by officials from the Tennessee attorney general’s office and will be handed over to authorities in Kentucky for distribution.

The brothers had sold the sanitizer for between $8 and $70 each, multiple times higher than what they paid for the product at stores.

“It was never my intention to keep necessary medical supplies out of the hands of people who needed them,” Matt Colvin said. “That’s not who I am as a person. And all I’ve been told for the last 48 hours is how much of that person I am.”

Colvin added he has received hate mail and death threats and has expressed remorse for his actions.

A church in Chattanooga, Calvary Chapel, has picked up some of the sanitizers that were collected by the brothers and have been inventorying it.

The church has been in contact with Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond and area authorities to get the sanitizer into the hands of first responders, nursing homes, and anywhere else it is most needed.



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