WNC Helene Hurricane/Flood Relief Efforts
To ALL of My Friends, I NEED YOUR HELP.
It has been a very long time that I have come to you with my hand out for a good cause, but I am now. WNC and TN have been hit with a substantial life altering hurricane resulting in landslides and floods that have destroyed and in many instances have completely wiped out towns along the river and in the hollers. So many have been left with nothing. Gone are their homes, their businesses, all of their belongings, many loved ones lost and some still not recovered because of the amount of debris that rolled down the mountains settling into the river bed. The river is also contaminated because of everything we live with and use was flushed into it. Without homes many have resorted to living in tents. It’s one thing to tent camp a few days for fun in the summer, but these are now their homes. The weather has changed and now it’s very cold and in some places snow has begun. Again, they are living in tents! Electric and running water is still quite sparse so they are depending on generators for daily living and clean up.
A little background on how we got this ball rolling. A couple of weeks ago @ScottCallaway called out of the blue one night telling me he’s been so upset of what was going on in Appalachia. I too, have been wrecked about it. He told me he wanted to collect donations for these folks whose lives have been totally destroyed; many lost everything, gone in an instant. We had no idea where to start or how, but we knew we had to act. We knew how well we worked together in the past with the Rostraver Baseball League and BVAHS Baseball so we knew we could do this. Scott has been relentless in bringing in organizations and I reached out to some friends who told me of @AnthonyEllis who has a ministry, His Place Fellowship Hall in Beaver along with his friend Matt Cook and his Cook Brothers Demolition company who is willing to use his trucks and drive the donations down to WNC. My husband was on a work call when one of the fellows mentioned that his family lives in Ashville and the entire place was just wiped out. His brother happens to own @ScroggsConstruction in Ashville who are staples of their community. They were quick to set up their own relief center in the midst of it all even though they had just been through hell themselves and so many others still in shock. When I first spoke to them they were still hiking with backpacks to deliver supplies. I cannot even imagine that, can you? Now they are a functioning relief resource outlet now able to outsource supplies needed to other areas with their connections. All of this occurred within less than 2 full days and since then we have made contact with a few smaller way out there towns that are also in desperate need. Where there’s a will there’s a way! God is great!
Now that we have a schedule set up I would like to reach out to you, my friends, to ask you to consider donating to people who are in dire need. There will be no quick fix there, this will take years. The river in some places actually moved and they are trying to return it back to its normal location. Think about that. There are towns that were completely wiped out, like as in gone! We are not being told the truth about the deaths and the trauma is beyond anything any of us can comprehend. They certainly will need help processing it, if that’s even possible. There are 1000’s in need, not just a few people, 1000’s without heat, without a roof over their heads. Many children are going through yet another catastrophic disaster in just a few years since Covid. It just isn’t fair. Some children lost their parents, pets and their homes. YES I’m painting a bleak picture BUT IT IS FAR WORSE then I’m describing. It’s been cold there and in some places its even snowing and unfortunately many are living in tents, yes tents. Those helping have been primarily just wonderful loving individuals, many veterans, first responders and churches. The clean-up has to be unreal.
Please understand it is that bad and they truly do need our help in so many locations, it’s that widespread. It’s been a very long time since I’ve asked for donations for an important cause, but this one tops them all. We want to help them bear this heavy burden; can you please help us do that?
On board with us are the premiere Pittsburgh Diamond Dawgs Baseball Team, who has already been busy accepting donations. We also have several sports groups from Thomas Jefferson High School and two other local school groups collecting donations. And Scott is working on some local box stores to see what they can do.
Please join the @TheConnection on Facebook where I update information and add videos of locals showing us exactly what is going on there. We sincerely appreciate each and every donation. Thank you and God bless.
Melinda
Drop Off Locations:
10/24/24 A trailer will be dropped off at Thomas Jefferson High School
11/02/24 Collections at the trailer will occur on Sat (11/2) between 8am and Noon. A driver will pick up the trailer after 12:00 at TJHS and depart for WNC. What doesn’t fit in the trailer will go into another vehicle in the convoy.
10/24 to 11/01 You may also drop off your donations or mail donations to my house in Rostraver. They MUST be RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 1, 2024! Message me for the address.
11/03/24 Donations will be delivered to several cleared and verified locations and our guys will stay to unload and assist in any way they are needed for a day.
Gift cards – These can be used to purchase generators or other supplies they need. Or they can be used for fuel for the trucks. Our guys will be sleeping in their vehicles, no hotels or fluff.
Monetary donations are accepted through Scott Callaway and Thomas Jefferson Head Baseball Coach Tim Vickers. These donations will be used to purchase items they need.
Donations can be sent to Thomas Jefferson Varsity Baseball Boosters c/o Hurricane Helene Appalachian relief Effort 830 Old Clairton Road, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025 DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 1st
Here is a current list of items the locations we are working with are looking for.
NO MORE CLOTHES We have been specifically asked to not include clothes, they have a sufficient supply
Generators – Gas or Solar with panels
Camping Stoves – Propane Tanks – Charcoal – Charcoal Grills
Heaters
Warm winter blankets
Cold Weather Tents - Canopies
Tarps
Sleeping Bags rated for Negative degree weather
Lamp Oil – Oil Lamps
Waterproof Muck Boots all sizes
Heavy Duty Rope
Water filtration – Water Filtered containers
Respirators – there is contamination from raw sewage, plastic plant, chemicals and much more in the river and areas around it.
Toilet Paper/ Paper Towels/Napkins/Paperplates/Plasticware
Flashlights and Headlamps
5 Gallon Buckets w/ lids
Cleaning Supplies – mops - broom s - scrub brushes - rags
Hand and Foot Warmers
Thermal Under Clothing of all sizes from child to adult
Shovels – Rakes – Chainsaws – Trim Trimmers – Screwdrivers –Screws – Hammers - Axes
Work Gloves
Mold Cleaner
Damp rid
Laundry Detergent
Dish Soap – Buckets to wash dishes in
Trash Bags
Batteries of all Sizes
Clear Storage Bins
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OTC medicines like Tylenol - anti-diarrhea meds – allergy meds
First Aid Supplies
PPE’s
Adult Diapers
Hygiene Products
Female Hygiene Products
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Instant Coffee and powered creamers
Condiments
Water Gallons – Distilled Water
Non-Perishable Food
Spaghetti Noodles and Sauce
Canned Meats
Canned Fruits
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ALL Baby Products – Included are cribs – playpens – baby bottles – walkers – diaper bags NO CLOTHES
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Pet Supplies – Food – Litter – Litter boxes
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Christmas items for the younger ones. Toys – Christmas Themed Pajamas All Sizes - anything to make Christmas better for them. DO NOT WRAP. You can include wrapping paper but the need to see the product in order to sort
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