Ohio's Community Action Agencies gather donations to help North Carolina hurricane relief

The nationwide network of Community Action Agencies is no stranger to responding to emergencies. For over 60 years, the network has worked to help low- and moderate-income households across America. Following Hurricane Helene, Ohio agencies are collecting donations from across the state to deliver to North Carolina's Blue Ridge Community Action in Morganton, N.C.
 
"Our network is committed to helping impoverished people, no matter the cause or the circumstances," said Philip E. Cole, executive director of Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies. "When the hurricane hit and devastated our friends in North Carolina, Ohio's network of agencies sprang into action to help."
 
Julia Wise, executive director at Highland County Community Action Organization, and her staff have organized two semi-trucks to deliver the donations to the North Carolina agency whose building was condemned due to the flooding.

"We've seen the devastation created by Hurricane Helene, and we knew we needed to do something to help our peers and colleagues," Wise said. "Many Community Action staff were impacted personally, yet they are continuing to help their neighbors while suffering from their own losses. If our efforts help those impacted, we're happy to do what we can."
 
Community Action Agencies and other residents throughout Ohio are gathering donations, helping load the trucks and even volunteering to drive the semis to North Carolina. Todd Campbell, a local Highland County farmer, volunteered to drive one of the trailers to the Morganton, N.C. agency, along with a driver from Willey Trucking. Applied Energy Sales and Services donated $22,000 in lightbulbs.

Donations from 25 Ohio’s Community Action Agencies and other related organizations include clothing, appliances, furniture, cleaning supplies, baby formula, electric heaters, blankets, cookware, shoes, office supplies and monetary donations, have been collected. The work continues.
 
Sharon Goodson, executive director of North Carolina Community Action Association, is helping coordinate the receipt of donations at the North Carolina agency. The Blue Ridge Community Action office has been closed since the hurricane, and the staff is working from temporary offices.

Two semis full of donations will depart from Highland County on Sunday evening (Oct. 27) and are scheduled to arrive in Morganton, N.C. early Monday morning. Volunteers are ready to unload the donations and organize them for distribution to households impacted by Hurricane Helene. 

Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. Community Action Agencies work to alleviate poverty and empower low-income families in their communities.

The Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies represents 48 agencies around the state serving the needs of low-income people in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. CAAs provide education and training, emergency services and other assistance programs to over 600,000 Ohioans annually.

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.