Donations needed for hurricane relief

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. ( KREX ) — The southeast portion of the United States has been hit hard by back-to-back hurricanes, leaving disaster in its wake.

Hurricane Helene made landfall Sept. 26 making its way up the coast, even impacting North Carolina.

One Grand Junction resident with ties to North Carolina was devastated when she learned of the news.

“It took everything that was in its path. Houses, cars, towns,” said Susan Woods, a former resident of North Carolina who now resides in Grand Junction. Woods tells WesternSlopeNow of a friend of her’s who is experiencing the aftermath of the storm.

“No power. No water to drink. No water to do laundry.”

Woods learned of a truck on the Western Slope that will soon be leaving to Swannanoa, North Carolina, to make donations.

She expressed her concern about residents in the area being unprepared for the forecasted cold temperatures that are expected next week.

“The temperatures next week in Swannanoa and Black Mountain are going to be in the high 50s and the low is pushing 32 degrees.”

Woods makes this plea to residents to donate to those in need.

“… Make a Walmart run or make a Sam’s run. Whatever they feel like they can do … because they need everything.”

The donation truck is located at 378 30 Road and is accepting donations until 8 p.m. Sunday.

A list of requested items for donation is below.

• Sleeping bags
• Tents
• Tarps
• Camping stoves
• Generators
• Gas Cans – 5 gallon (empty)
• Extension cords
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Towels and washcloths
• Warm clothing, shoes, coats, hats, gloves and socks (mens, women’s, children’s and infant — all sizes)
• Diapers and PullUps – all sizes
• Baby blankets
• Baby wipes
• Baby formula
• Shelf stable food (canned and dry goods, PB&J, snacks, dry milk, etc)
• Laundry detergent
• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Paper plates and plastic utensils
• Flashlights
• Toiletries (soap, shampoo, deodorant, combs, brushes, toothpaste, toothbrushes)
• Portable space heaters
• Chainsaws and replacement chains
• Propane bottles
• Lanterns
• Flashlights
• New batteries
• Dog and cat food (can and dry unopened)
• Animal cages and crates
• Salt

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