SuperTalk Mississippi Meridian is partnering with several local churches and organizations to gather supplies for North Carolinians recently impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The charitable effort was started by Clarke County Farm Bureau Association President Jonathan Cranford and Curtis Lewis as the two have been working since Helene’s tear to address the greatest needs among communities impacted by the devastating natural disaster.
As some people in North Carolina have lost their entire homes, businesses, and other essentials, just about everything is a grand necessity for those living in the western part of the state. The Mississippi crew is planning to collect a multitude of supplies to meet each need.
Diapers, baby wipes, female products, towels, jackets, socks, hand warmers, blankets, batteries, hygiene products, toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, non-perishable foods, flashlights, gas cans, and manual can openers are currently in greatest demand.
However, SuperTalk Mississippi Meridian General Manager Shelly Hotchkiss Whitehead believes there will be an even better read on what else is needed after Jonathan’s group returns from their first venture to North Carolina. The crew plans to load up their first round of supplies Wednesday night, head east on Thursday, drop off the supplies, and then come back.
“When Jonathan comes back, he will have seen what they need because right now, there’s not a ton of communication. We’re getting blips and pieces, it seems like, of what’s going on,” Whitehead said. “When he comes back, we’re really going to amp up our drive of what is really needed for people on the ground.”
Jonathan plans to return to the East Coast a couple of weeks following his return home. Once he is back in North Carolina, he intends to stay and work with destitute communities.
“He is going to work and then come back,” said Monay Cranford, Jonathan’s mother and an account executive with SuperTalk Mississippi Meridian. “Around Christmas, we want to do a Christmas drive to try and make the children’s Christmas a little better.”
Donations can be dropped off at the Supertalk Mississippi Meridian station located at 613 22nd Avenue and in Laurel at Bethlehem Community Church. Monetary donations will go toward the greatest needs of the communities in North Carolina.
“We all have to give it our best effort and help each other right now in this time of need,” Whitehead said.
Those with any questions about donation needs or locations can call (601)693-1103.
