Arthur community rallies for hurricane relief efforts

ARTHUR Ill. (WCIA) – Countless boxes and buckets of supplies are the result of one community’s efforts to support Hurricane Helene victims.

Oye’s Hardware in Arthur is getting ready to hand deliver necessities to North Carolina. Their store is receiving more and more donations by the day, ready to go to those in need.

“If you feel like you’re led to do it, then do it,” owner Charlie Oye said.

A Facebook post is what started it. In two days, it had almost 300 shares.

“I wouldn’t say it’s my plan,” Oye said. “We’re trying to do what God wants us to.”

The post has brought food, medicine and countless other supplies to the back area of the store.

“It’s tough in the beginning but once you find out that it’s all taken care of every step of the way, everything you think you’re going to mess up, you can’t, it’s just all laid out for you,” Oye said.

Charlie Oye plans to hand deliver the donations next week. His wife, Casey, has a friend organizing relief efforts out of a church in Newland, North Carolina.

“Our biggest reason for doing it is you don’t know for certain where it’s going or what it’s going to be used for if you’re not the one taking it down there,” Oye said.

Along with the other supplies, about 25 heaters, 20 sleeping bags and 10 chainsaws will make the 11-hour drive to North Carolina.

“Every time it seems like I try to order more than I think I’ll be able to pay for, it’s paid for,” Oye said. “So, we’re very blessed.”

The couple will be accepting donations until Thursday and expect to make the trip sometime next week. Flashlights and batteries are the donations they need the most.

“These people don’t have anything,” Oye said. “It’s going to be freezing in their houses, and they don’t have power. There’s always room for more, and we can always take more down.”

The supplies will be delivered with handwritten letters from Charlie and Casey’s 5-year-old daughter Myla. They said she has a heart of gold and wants to help the only way she knows how.

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