From SMECO, to the Ridge Lions Club, to The Knights Of Columbus, and local Girl Scout groups, there has been no shortage of help shown from our community for the victims of Helene.
SMECO began the efforts on September 28th, sending out their first wave of help to bring electricity back to the Statesboro, GA area alongside their co-op Excelsior EMC. Then, on September 29, additional crews headed as well to help BARC Electric Cooperative with overall destruction caused by Helene. SMECO wrote on their Facebook Page, “Millions remain without power as utilities across several states enter the fourth day of restoration efforts. Eight SMECO linemen are still at Excelsior EMC, joining over 300 linemen from various states to help restore power to Statesboro, GA. Meanwhile, two additional SMECO crews have completed their work at BARC Electric Cooperative and departed this morning for Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc., where they will continue supporting neighboring cooperatives in restoring power to their members. Sending a big thank you to all of the linemen who continue to work safely and tirelessly to restore power. #HurricaneHelene #CooperativeDifference”.
The Ridge Lions Club has created an event for collection sites around SOMD to pack up and send to NC, GA and TN. PJ and PJ’s Towing added to the effort; volunteering their 53-foot semi trailer, set to be filled by Friday, October 4, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. They mentioned on their Facebook Page, “The drop offs listed are good until tomorrow (Thursday), we have volunteers going around daily picking these items up. On Friday (Oct 4th) the drop off will ONLY be at the Knights of Columbus Hall (KC Hall) in Ridge, MD starting at 8am-3pm. We will have a drive thru to drop the items off. Enter on the Three Notch (235) side, exit on Route 5, cones will be out to direct traffic. We want to Thank everyone for their generosity and support. If you want to help sort and pack the trailer on Friday, please come down and lend a hand!!!”
The Knights Of Columbus has also created an event, the St. Marys County Maryland Supply Collection and Caravan to North Carolina, as a “Collection of supplies for North Carolina at Knights of Columbus parking lot in Ridge, followed by a caravan heading down on Friday afternoon.” They have also created an option for those unable to donate physically, “Monetary donations can be sent via Zelle to kimcarter.ridgelionsclub@yahoo.com.”
The Girl Scouts of America, ‘Association 11, Service Units 11-7 and 11-9 is currently waiting for final approval for a couple of storefront collection sites in Calvert County for October 12-13th. All items collected will be heading to areas affected in North Carolina the evening of the 13th.’
Any and all help from the community is appreciated towards any of these organizations.
Baynet will continue to update as more information becomes available.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
