Eureka community in full force to aid those affected by Helene, Milton

EUREKA, Mo. – As the saying goes, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

This week, Sarah’s On Central is embracing that spirit, collecting essential donations on Tuesday and Wednesday to support those devastated by this year’s hurricane season.

“You can see in people’s eyes when they walk in—they just want to do something,” Jill Umbarger, the owner of Sarah’s On Central, said.

She says there has been outpouring generosity in the community.

The items requested include baby formula, hygiene products, and winter clothing, all of which will be sent to families affected by recent hurricanes. The residents of Eureka are eager to help, with many finding ways to contribute despite challenges.

Founder of the drop off donation, Nancy Merritt shared, “I’m able to drive down, not everyone can. I think a lot of people want to, their hearts are breaking but they can’t because of logistics.”

This desire to give back is deeply rooted in the Eureka community’s own experiences with disaster.

Jill reflected on Eureka’s resilience in the face of adversity.

“Eureka’s gone through their fair share of floods and catastrophes. This community is amazing—when you put a call out to them to come to the aid of people that are going through what we went through years ago—they’re all over it. It’s a great community,” she said.

In 2017, floodwaters up to 8 feet submerged Old Town Eureka, a stark reminder of the area’s vulnerability. Hurricane Milton, now looming, is expected to bring even higher flood levels.

Eureka is working to prevent such devastation from recurring, with plans to break ground on two flood walls by late Fall or early Winter.

The first flood wall will protect the city’s water sewage plant from potential floods caused by Forby Creek. The second will be built around the Old Town Eureka business district to safeguard it from flooding along Flat Creek. Businesses like O’Dell’s Ale House, which suffered significant damage in both 2015 and 2017, are keenly aware of the risks.

“Anytime we look at a huge amount of water coming down… Until we get to that point where we never see water coming up to my doors again… I’m gonna be fearful of it… and it’s just how it is,” Tara Moore, general manager of O’Dell’s Ale House, said.

While Eureka has made great strides in flood preparedness and recovery, the memories of past floods still linger, driving the community’s compassion for others in need. Eureka’s response to current disasters, both locally and beyond, demonstrates its strength and unity. With flood walls in the works and a history of overcoming adversity, the town continues to find ways to help others, offering hope and support in times of crisis.

The empathy of the Eureka community has been so great that Nancy had to purchase a trailer to transport the items, and she said she’s not afraid to get a bigger one if needed.

Sarah’s on Central will be accepting donations through 5 p.m. Thursday.

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