PERRY, Ga. — As Central Georgians deal with the aftermath of tropical storm Helene, many are focusing on rounding up supplies for people directly impacted.
Some volunteers are focusing their disaster relief efforts on areas outside of Georgia.
In Perry, a team from Yoder Construction is preparing a trip to North Carolina. Monday, contractor and manager Luke Yoder took to social media for donations. Since then, he said they've raised a little over $8,000 for supplies and gas.
"All I did was put the word out and people brought this in an overwhelming response and we're very, very grateful," Yoder said.
Yoder grew up in Union Grove, North Carolina and says his family always took part in local cleanups after storms.
"It means so much to me when you see how much it means to somebody else because they're so grateful and it actually turns out to be more of a blessing for you than it does for them," Yoder said.
He's beginning his journey in a town a few hours away from his old stomping grounds; he'll be with a team of volunteers and together they'll spend Thursday through Sunday in areas hit hardest, beginning in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
He said they plan to give away 1000 gallons of gas to help people power their cars and generators, bring chainsaws to help clear roads of debris and provide warm meals.
"Our main focus is to go to that area that nobody has gotten to yet and they haven't gotten any exposure on," Yoder said. "Then after that, we can see, and we're also hoping we can do this more locally again."
He said this wouldn't be possible without the help of donors; some people are giving their last dime to give someone a fresh start.
"The people that are willing to help and people that came and said, 'I wanna give $20 and I'm sorry, I can't do more but when I get my next paycheck, I wanna give more.' That just tugs at your heartstrings, to know that they're willing to do that," Yoder said.
He says the amount of donations they've received went way past their expectations so they're taking extra trailers to accompany everything.
"It's not that many of us won't be able to do a whole lot, but we're gonna do what we can to make the most impact," he said.
Yoder said they plan to load up equipment and supplies Wednesday afternoon and will accept donations into the evening, they're accepting donations at his construction office: 366 Duke Road, Perry, Georgia.
- Donations they're accepting:
- Baby products (formula, diapers, bottles, etc.)
- Toiletries
- Water
- Non-perishable food items
- Pet food
- Gas cans
- Flashlights
More ways to give:
PhatBoy'z Smokehouse will serve free meals at a hurricane relief event in McRae. It'll begin at 1 p.m. in the Corinth CME Church parking lot.
Peach County Future Farmer of America students collecting donations for Southeast Georgia farmers affected by Helene. Drop-off locations include Peach County Board of Education, Peach County High School and Kay Road Elementary. The deadline to provide donations is Oct. 4.
Ingleside Baptist Church collecting items for disaster relief Oct. 1 - Oct. 3rd to give to those affected in Augusta. Items may be dropped off at 2980 Riverside Drive, Macon, Georgia from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. They're accepting non-perishable food items, water, containers, rope, tarps, propane tanks, pet food and more.