This story was updated to add information and delete old information. It was also updated because one news release included an incorrect company name, which was subsequently published in this story.
Area governments, businesses, schools and others are collecting donations of water and other items for the people devastated by Hurricane Helene in northeast Tennessee, western North Carolina and Georgia.
The city of Oak Ridge's collections of bottled water at the Municipal Building concluded Thursday, Oct. 3, but a city Electric Department lineman has a personal connection to the area and that department is collecting items other than bottled water for the hurricane victims through Oct. 11.
Chris Russell, a senior engineering technician and lineman, has a "first-hand account of the area and devastation in Erwin, Tennessee and Boone, North Carolina and left Wednesday (Oct. 2) to bring multiple truckloads and trailers of supplies up to the area."Anyone wanting to donate items other than bottled water can bring them by the Oak Ridge Central Services Complex at 100 Woodbury Lane through Oct. 11," stated the information provided by the city via email. "He will be making as many trips as needed between now and then!"
To donate to supplies for small animals and livestock, the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine is collecting supplies at the Brehm Animal Science Arena located at 2506 River Drive in Knoxville until 6 p.m. Wednesday, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3 and 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, according to a city of Oak Ridge news release.
Citizens throughout Anderson County are being asked to donate bottled water at the Anderson County jail to help people in Cocke County. Carter Express Inc. and Advanced Transportation are making the semi-trucks available and will take the donations to Cocke County. Semi-trucks are parked at the Anderson County Detention Facility, more familiarly called the Anderson County jail, located at 308 Public Safety Lane in Clinton. People may drop off packs of bottled water that will be loaded onto the trucks, and when the trailers are full, the water will be delivered to specific distribution points in Cocke County in coordination with government officials in that county.
Both the American Museum of Science and Energy, 115 E. Main St., and K-25 History Center, 652 Enrichment St., Oak Ridge are collecting items ranging from bottled water and toiletries to portable generators and candles, according to an email. Both museums are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays.
The city, on its Facebook page, also said donations of water could be made in Knox County at its Engineering and Public Works Department: 205 W Baxter Ave., Knoxville. The phone number is 865-215-5800.
Already over the weekend, the Anderson County Sheriff's Office called for residents to donate water. Within a day, residents had donated enough bottled water to fill a truck and a trailer, leading Sheriff Russell Barker to pause the donations.
"You made our country proud today with your water donations," the sheriff stated on the office's Facebook page. "The Sheriff's Office employees are proud to live in a community where this kind of response is seen. Anderson County, you showed up and showed out!" The water was donated by the Anderson County Emergency Management Agency to upper East Tennessee.
At Anderson County High School in Clinton, the Mavericks are calling for everyone to fill a tractor trailer by donating water to be taken to those in need in upper East Tennessee. The Mavericks, via social media, said the water can be dropped off at the school's front lobby. The school is located at 130 Maverick Circle.
Ada Herna?ndez-Bell, United Way of Anderson County, said in an email that they are encouraging partners to donate to area relief funds and use local drop-offs. The local United Way included a graphic that tells of the most-needed items: Bottled water, non-perishable food, feminine products, pet food, diapers, blankets, first aid kits, baby wipes, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and other toiletries.
Here's information she provided on a few of those efforts and drop-offs. Call the locations for specific information and to find out if the efforts have ended:
In addition to donating physical items, you can also give money to relief funds, she said. Among those United Way suggested:
Anderson Farmers Co-Op in Clinton is giving residents the chance to help the people and their animals. In a post to Facebook, people were asked to donate non-perishable food, bottled water, baby formula, diapers, pet foods and livestock feeds at donation boxes at the business, located at 110 Charles G. Seivers Blvd, Clinton. Or, you can buy a bag of feed at the co-ope that will be sent to an area in need.
Tim Patterson Trucking in Rocky Top is accepting donations this week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. "Our goal is to have a trailer load by the end of the week. If anyone would like to donate bottled water, paper towels, toilet paper, non perishable food, ready to eat food, plastic utensils, paper plates, cleaning supplies, etc., they can be dropped off at 189 Hustler Boat Lane, Rocky Top," is the message posted to the company's Facebook page.
Anderson County government provided the following information in a news release.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency works closely with the Tennessee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (TNVOAD) to organize both volunteers and donations for areas that are impacted by disasters and emergencies. To learn where you can volunteer your time or make donations, visit www.TNVOAD.org.
“While local communities appreciate the volunteer spirit during disasters and emergencies, it is important to refrain from sending resources that have not been requested by state or local authorities,” TEMA said in a statement released over the weekend.
If local citizens wish to make monetary donations to storm relief, a fund has been set up with the East Tennessee Foundation. Instructions for donating money can be found on the organization’s website at https://easttennesseefoundation.org.
Donations of bottled water and necessities can be delivered to specific locations within the affected counties. For current locations and drop-off times, visit the donations section online at https://www.tn.gov/tema/updates/hurricane-helene.html.
Donations of water are also being accepted at all Roane State Community College campuses, including the one in Oak Ridge at 701 Briarcliff Ave.
RSCC students and employees can bring donations to any Roane State campus until further notice, according to a college news release. Members of the local community are invited to donate as well. Signage will soon be posted at campuses directing donors where to go. Accepted donations include any kind of drinkable bottled water, which is of critical need right now.
At the Oak Ridge Campus, water donations can be dropped off at the front desk inside the Coffey/McNally Building. At the Roane County Campus in Harriman, the water donation drop-off and collection point will be inside the Gymnasium near Room G-200.
The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith covers Oak Ridge area news. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter@ridgernewsed.
Support The Oak Ridger by subscribing. Offers available at https://subscribe.oakridger.com/offers.