Businesses, religious organizations and others in York County have been collecting donations to send to victims in southern states devastated by the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.
McGrew Equipment Company in Seven Valleys has sent several tractor-trailer loads as well as a small trailer to the victims in North Carolina and Tennessee, general manager Zach Innerst said. It will continue to collect items, such as new clothing, canned goods, water, and pet food, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
The owner of the business, Greg McGrew, has indicated that it will collect donations and deliver them to those in need for as long it takes, Innerst said. It also is helping farmers with livestock supplies.
"We just want people to keep donating, and we'll get it there," Innerst said.
Donations have been pouring in while another powerful hurricane is heading for Florida. Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm . It could be one of the most destructive hurricanes to hit west-central Florida , according to John Cangialosi, a specialist with the National Hurricane Center.
Meanwhile, the York County Public Safety Training Center in Manchester Township has started collecting donations for first responders who have been affected by the hurricane. It is asking for items such as toiletries, first aid supplies, towels and pet supplies.
The donations will be collected through Oct. 22 and can be dropped off between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the center at 330 Emig Road. Anyone with a large dropoff can call (717) 767-4097 to make arrangements.
The York County Office of Emergency Management is monitoring the recovery in the states devastated by the flooding and looking for any lessons to be learned, public information officer Ted Czech said. The department also is monitoring the path of Hurricane Milton and any impacts it might have in southcentral Pennsylvania.
While life-saving and recovery efforts are ongoing in the South, the United Way of North Carolina is collecting monetary donations to help the communities, Czech said. For more information, visit nc.gov .
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In southern York County, Stewartstown Baptist Church in Hopewell Township is collecting clothing to help keep people warm as temperatures get cooler. It is looking for coats, socks, gloves, hats, blankets and more. They can be new or slightly used, associate pastor Chandler Robinson said.
The senior pastor, Tim Parker, is helping with disaster relief, and his wife, Vernessa, spoke with another minister's wife in North Carolina who shared the need for clothing to keep warm, Robinson said.
The church is accepting the items through Oct. 20. They can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday.
Also in southern York County, Lori Hatley of Hopewell Township and family members will be collecting donations at two sites: Eureka Volunteer Fire Department in Stewartstown and Grace Fellowship Church in Shrewsbury.
The collection will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the fire department, 82 N. Main St. in Stewartstown, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20 at the church, 74 E. Forrest Ave., in Shrewsbury.
They are collecting non-perishable food, cleaning supplies and hygiene items. Some victims are having to travel for hours to buy supplies at stores, Hatley said.
Hatley owns a trucking company and Lori's Large Car Brokerage, and she said they try to help others and give back. The goods will be delivered to Baptists on Mission in Shelby, N.C.
Hatley said she thanks everyone in advance for their help. Everything is much appreciated.
"It's just truly a blessing that everybody is trying to help," she said.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: As another hurricane looms, York County collects goods to help flood victims in the South
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