PANAMA CITY — Having lived through the destruction of Category 5 Hurricane Michael six year ago, Darryl Pierce says he was driven to help others going through a similar situation.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the Bay County resident organized a donation drive with several local dropoff sites to raise supplies for the residents of eastern Tennessee. Supplies will be collected until Thursday, before being driven to the area either Friday or Saturday.
“I was affected by Michael, and I’m from east Tennessee originally,” Pierce said. “I just felt like it was the right thing to do. I did the same thing during (Hurricane) Katrina. When people are in need, if you’re able, you should (help).”
Hurricane Helene made landfall near the Big Bend area on Sept. 26 as a Category 4 storm. It then continued north, devastating many states throughout the southeast U.S., including North Carolina and Tennessee.
Pierce noted the local dropoff sites included in his donation drive are:
- Rosie’s Corner Pub at 4130 U.S. 98 in Panama City
- Blessed Beginnings at 1515 St. Andrews Blvd. in Panama City
- Annie’s Hideaway Pub at 478 County 389 in Lynn Haven
- Major’s Smokehouse at 308 Ohio Ave. in Lynn Haven