Locals start drive for Louisiana flood victims
Published 10:16 pm Monday, August 15, 2016
It’s been said that giving is the greatest act of grace, and a group of locals is working to do just that.
With massive flooding in Louisiana and the death toll rising, and more than 20,000 people being rescued, the group – including Terry Gantt, Blaine Wilson, Rudy King, Cathy Brown and Jimmy O’Brien, – have teamed up to help deliver supplies to those who need them in Louisiana.
“Terry Gantt from Andalusia is a laid off oil worker,” Wilson said. “He has a lot of friends that live in the Louisiana area.”
Wilson said that Gantt is passionate about helping his friends during this tough time.
So, Wilson, who owns WAAO, King and Brown of Jackson Honda have agreed to be a drop off point for the needed items to help neighbors in Louisiana.
Wilson said that O’Brien of Big Iron Scrap Metals has donated a trailer to haul the items those in need.
They are asking for locals to contribute donations of bottled water, gallons of water, baby formula that has not been opened and is still within date, as well as diapers, baby wipes and personal hygiene items.
“We hope to get it all filled by Thursday,” Wilson said.
Wilson said Gantt will be making the delivery Thursday evening.
“We did this one time before during the Tuscaloosa tornadoes,” Wilson said. “And we had great response. People have always responded when we needed them. I always think back to Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Opal, we always had help. It’s easy for us to forget that it’s only a couple hundred miles away.”
Wilson said Gantt will take the supplies directly to those who need them and not to a distribution center.