Courtesy of Kentucky.com Temporary emergency lighting was brought in to help rescuers search the rubble of the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory following the weekend's disastrous tornado strikes. Alene Candles of Milford has organized a donation campaign to assist victims and their families in the wake of the deadly storms.

MILFORD – Owners of Alene Candles, the large Milford employer that also has a facility in Ohio, has kicked off a campaign for donations to assist the Mayfield, Kentucky tornado victims – beginning with a $25,000 pledge they announced last week.

In addition, the owners agreed to match all donations made by its employees in both Milford and their factory in the Columbus, Ohio suburb of New Albany.

More than 100 employees of Mayfield Consumer Products were working the overnight shift when a monstrous “wedge” – meaning exceptionally wide – tornado roared through the middle of Mayfield, a community of about 10,000 people in the western corner of Kentucky.

Alene’s owners are “calling on fellow businesses and residents of New Hampshire and Ohio to lend their support to the tornado victims,” according to a statement issued by the office of Rod Harl, Alene’s owner, president and CEO.

Company leadership is also encouraging members of the public, as well as Alene employees, to select the option “write a note of support” when making their donations, to assure the victims and their families that the Milford and New Albany communities stand with them.

To donate, and for more information, go to the special donation site, www.mcpkentucky.com. All the funds pledged will go directly to providing victim relief.

According to the latest reports, meanwhile, eight MCP workers were killed and eight others remained missing, but more than 90 people had been located.

The building, like many in Mayfield, was reduced to rubble, trapping workers as they tried to scramble to safety.

The third largest employer in western Kentucky, MCP was considered “an important economic engine” that, like Alene Candles, “churned out candles that line the shelves of malls around the country.”

“This is an unspeakable tragedy, and we are devastated for the people of Mayfield and our friends at Mayfield Consumer Products,” said Harl, Alene’s owner.

“The community of candlemakers is a small, tight-knit group. Itís important that our company, employees and community show support for MCP and the town of Mayfield during this difficult time.”

Ted Goldberg, an Alene Candles owner and chief business development officer, said he is confident “our communities of Milford and New Albany will come together to support Mayfield and the workers at MCP.

“Despite our geographic differences,” Goldberg added, “there are many similarities between our craft, our communities and our workers.”

In a message posted on www.mcpkentucky.com, Mayfield Consumer Products CEO Troy Propes said the leadership of the family-owned company is devastated yet grateful for all the offers of help they have received.

“Our facility was destroyed … and tragically, employees were killed and injured,” Propes wrote.

“We’re heartbroken about this, and our immediate efforts are to assist those affected by this terrible disaster.

“Our company is family-owned and our employees, some who have worked with us for many years, are cherished. Weíre immediately establishing an emergency fund to assist our employees and their families.

“Weíre grateful to the first responders who heroically assisted our employees following the storm. And, weíre thankful for those who are generously offering to assist us,” Propes wrote.

“Your prayers are needed and appreciated.”

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.