It’s now been one week since Hurricane Helene brought deep loss and destruction across the southeast.
With so many in need not too far away from us, the Volunteer State stepped up to help.
Volunteers have been gathering at the Lebanon Fire Department Training Center to load donations onto trucks and send them to the hardest hit areas. That includes Greeneville, Newport, and Erwin.
“Why not? Somebody’s gotta do it,” said William Shipper, who’s supplying the trucks and trailers headed to East Tennessee.
“When there is a need, and you have the ability to meet the need, it’s just the right thing to do,” added Mistie Ragland. She’ll also be traveling to help storm victims, providing supplies and hot meals.
“I don’t want anyone to have to go through this because it’s horrible. It disrupts your life for months and months and years,” said Melissa Lutz, who dropped off donations Friday.
She lived through Hurricane Florence on the North Carolina coast and knows a little help goes a long way.