Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. Emergency personnel from Station 1 in Clayton collect items for hurricane victims Wednesday. The drop-off will be at 36 Emergency Drive, Clayton until around noon Friday. Oct. 4.
Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage to many areas of North Carolina and Rabun County residents have an opportunity to help.
Thanks to Persimmon Baptist Church and Rabun County Station 1, donations of supplies for hurricane victims are being collected in the gravel parking lot next to 36 Emergency Drive, Clayton.
The supplies will be delivered to Black Mountain, N.C., to be distributed by the Cajun Navy, according to information on a handout provided to the community at the drop-off site.
The Cajun Navy Relief, Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission of neighbors helping neighbors.
"The mission of Cajun Navy Relief is to save lives. We are a group of volunteers who work tirelessly without pay to provide immediate rescue and relief during natural disasters. Rescue and relief are our way of sharing the South Louisiana cultural tradition of neighbors helping neighbors with people in need across the United States. By integrating civilian volunteers into the Incident Command Structure we can act as a force multiplier for agencies responding to disasters," according to the organization's website.
The collection site will be available for community members to drop off supplies until Friday, Oct. 4, around noon. The goal was to fill a 15-foot U-Haul trailer, but in just 24 hours that goal had already been exceeded.
"Rabun was so fortunate to have missed the brunt of Hurricane Helene. We feel led to offer as much assistance as we can," according to the handout.
Rev. Avery Lawrence is the pastor at Persimmon Baptist Church and told The Clayton Tribune that the church always tries to do anything it can when it comes to helping the community, kids, or all of the above.
Lawrence is also the assistant principal at Rabun County Primary School.
Lawrence said his wife, Nawana Lawrence, had it on her heart to help those in need following the hurricane.
"She had a deep conviction," Lawrence said about how his wife felt God was calling her to make a difference in the community.
And that difference was made in a significant way as the collection turned into more than one U-Haul full of supplies.
"God orchestrated it," Lawrence said of how the community came together to help others. "This is all a God thing."
Lawrence said all glory goes to God and that with a blessing “God spared us the worst” here in Rabun County so it's important to help others.
Monetary donations also are being accepted in cash or checks can be made to Persimmon Baptist Church. Lawrence thanked the community for its continued support as well as the first responders at Station 1 who took time out of their busy schedules to help with the collection.
Needed items include: bottled water; tarps; NEW socks/underwear; diapers (all sizes); wipes (baby and adult); feminine products such as tampons and pads; bug spray; plastic forks/spoons; aluminum pans; trash bags of all sizes; Ramen noodles; canned soups/Chef Boyardee; Vienna sausage/canned meat; toilet paper and paper towels; rubber gloves; baby food/formula; cleaning supplies; protein/granola bars; toothbrushes and toothpaste; dog and cat food; kitty litter; phone chargers and cords; flashlights/batteries; individual snacks/crackers; new gas cans; peanut butter; BAND-AIDs; solar powerbanks/chargers; Gatorade; beef jerky; hand sanitizer/wipes; first-aid kits; good condition boots; soap, towels and washcloths; and manual can openers.
For more information, contact Avery or Nawana at 706-490-3114 or 706-490-1233.
Visit https://www.cajunnavyrelief.com/ for more information on Cajun Navy Relief.