Actresses assist The Salvation Army in Mountain City

MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Actresses Alexa PenaVega and Taylor Dooley from the movie franchises “Spy Kids” and “Sharkboy and Lavagirl” served meals alongside The Salvation Army on Thursday in Mountain City.

The pair worked with The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) team to assist in relief efforts after Hurricane Helene.

PenaVega and Dooley are best known for their roles in the “Spy Kids” and “Sharkboy and Lavagirl” films, respectively.

“We wanted to be here. We are blessed to be here. Serving others is such an important part of our lives,” said PenaVega. “When you see the heartache and devastation, it’s hard not to jump in and help. These people have lost so much, and being able to give back, even a little, is a blessing.”

The actresses helped to distribute more than 600 meals with the Salvation Army’s mobile feeding unit in Mountain City.

“It wasn’t just about handing out food,” said Dooley. “It was about letting these people know they’re not forgotten. It was powerful to hear their stories and pray with them.”

In the two weeks since Helene hit, the Salvation Army has served more than 30,000 meals and provided support to more than 1,800 survivors.

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