Augusta Training Shop making ‘hurricane hearts’ to show gratitude to lineman and first responders in the area

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The community coming together to express gratitude to those who came to the CSRA to help after Hurricane Helene.

The Augusta Training Shop making over 1000 hurricane hearts in the past three days has for the linemen and first responders in the area.

“We’re making hearts, and we are putting little sweet notes on them and giving them to the lineman to thank them for their work and all they did to help us after the hurricane,” said Riley Kate Wills, volunteer.

More than 50 volunteers made and distributed these hearts. The message on the paper is #MovingHeartward, reflecting the love and dedication shown to the community by linemen and first responders.

“I felt like moving forward. I kept hearing that and hearing that, and I thought, okay, well, they’re moving heartward. They’re moving with their hearts and they’re moving us heartward,” said Audrey Murell, Executive Director of Augusta Training Shop.

Volunteers from all ages participated in the project. Some had a specific reason for donating their time.

“This particular give spoke to me because it’s creative, and it’s the idea creative, and also, it’s the making of them is creative. And it just honors our good friend in Augusta Kathrine McCall, who we lost during this storm,” said Harriet Monnig, a volunteer.

Parents with children still out of school or just getting back were happy to bring them to the shop so that they could give back to those they had seen helping in this area.

“I watch them as we’re driving, and they’re looking out the windows and kind of see, you know, the devastation, and I think that can definitely be alarming for children, but they’ve also gotten to see things like this, and see the community come together,” said Kaitlyn Triplett, volunteer.

Others born and raised here hate to see the devastation left in the community by Hurricane Helene. This is just one way to show appreciation for the help that has been provided locally.

“These little hearts can represent just joy during these hard times for little ones, and we can thank those that are leaving their families and their loved ones to be here and help us. We’re just so grateful,” said RobinAnne Wills, a volunteer.

They are always accepting volunteers to help make and distribute the hearts. You can come in from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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