By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
SYRACUSE — An area church is one of numerous groups across northern Indiana collecting items to send to North Carolina for hurricane disaster relief.
The remnants of Hurricane Helene caused wide-spread flooding and mudslides in North Carolina that decimated many communities.
With roads, power lines and cellphone towers damaged throughout the region, thousands of people found themselves cut off from food, water, electricity and phone service.
Nearly 100 are believed to be dead in the state as a result of the storm, which struck Friday morning.
One local effort is being headed up in part by Andrea Murphy, of New Paris, who said she and her husband woke up Saturday morning overwhelmed with a desire to assist.
She said it was a “God thing.”
They’ve teamed up with Grace Community Church in Goshen and have a series of vehicles that will head out Saturday to North Carolina carrying much-needed supplies to many who are cut off from help.
The plan has snowballed.
“It has grown massively since then,” Murphy said.
The group now has a small caravan that will make the trip.
“We’ve been donated three trailers from the church, one trailer from my mom and local people who have the vehicles that want to go,” she said.
She listed some of the most needed items.
“We’re asking for charcoal and gloves and boots and softer things like blankets, paper towels, toilet paper,” she said.
Water, she said, is not an immediate need.
Items are being accepted for that effort today from 4 to 8 p.m. at the former South Shore Golf Course, now known as the South Shore Social, a sports bar and restaurant, during a previously scheduled cruise-in at the business.
Residents can also donate after that period at the same location.
Murphy said plans are also in the works for a return trip.
In a separate effort, Beth Harrison at the State Farm office on North Detroit Street in Warsaw is collecting items and plans to deliver them on Saturday.
