Following the Sept. 24-29 landfall of Hurricane Helene, a devastating event that has taken hundreds of lives, displaced thousands and caused loss of electricity to millions throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, local residents are taking part in providing relief to those in need.

Some local efforts began last week with a simple Facebook post by Daisy Thomas (screenname Bertha Mae Jones): “I am still collecting stuff for flood victims…but I reach out today for a different reason,” she posted. “My mama Kathy Michel is looking for someone to take some of our hay to where it can be distributed out to the animals that need it in Tennessee and North Carolina.”

She placed a call to action asking for help delivering to the victims of the storm.

The answer she received provided an opportunity to help on a larger scale than she imagined: she is now spearheading coordination of relief efforts in the Owensville and Bland areas.

Thomas, a native of Cumberland Furnace, Tenn., has partnered with Brandi Bass of Baldwin, Ill., a native of Tennessee and daughter of Louise Rednour of Owensville, who is leading relief efforts by a group that calls themselves “God’s Army.”

God’s Army is a group of individuals from Illinois working with smaller non-profit organizations and churches in small towns affected by Helene.

“I was going down just to take supplies and see who needed help,” Bass told The Republican. “That was the plan.”

She informed friends and family and in response received a lot of requests to help.

“Since I was in Owensville, I answered the call for a pickup for hay,” Bass said.

Thomas originally agreed to join the God’s Army caravan heading out last Saturday. After more coordination, she agreed to stay behind and gather more donations.

In the last week, Thomas has gathered donations including hay, food, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, and baby and pet supplies from local residents and churches, partnering with local businesses WW’s Last Call and K&M Market in Bland — both serving as drop-off locations.

These donations were added to the supplies gathered by Bass, which included clothes, food, medical supplies, vacuums, cleaning supplies, gift cards, monetary donations and even beer.

Donations that needed to go through a 501c(3) were directed to Operation Blessing.

Bass shared that she felt compelled to take things into her own hands after hearing reports of people seeking to help being turned away.

“I’m seeing reports that people are dying because they are waiting for help,” Bass shared.  “If that was one of my family members, I would wait for nothing. We’re not waiting. We’re doing this ourselves.”

Bass said the purpose of the caravan was not only to provide as many supplies as possible, but also to protect the group from looting and other dangers of the trip such as falling victim to having their tires slashed.

Thomas shared that local efforts have been met with much generosity.

The original plan was to fill up one 26-foot Gooseneck trailer which could only hold 18 to 20 large round hay bales, however the response from the local community was so large that a semi will need to be brought in to take additional donations down.

“It takes a village and I’m super proud and grateful for the community right now,” Thomas shared. “My emotions are running high with the outpouring of love and kindness, which is greatly needed.”

Since the start of this week, God’s Army sent groups to Georgia on Monday, North Carolina and Tennessee on Tuesday, with another North Carolina run scheduled for today (Wednesday).

Another local couple arrived in Georgia this week to start cleaning up the area of trees threatening power lines in the affected areas.

Danny Strode and wife, Emmylou, of Strode Tree LLC in Owensville, who are working under a contractor hired by FEMA, were dispatched to Tifton and Lakeland, Ga.

Strode shared with The Republican that his company’s primary focus is hurricane relief.

They arrived on location Monday and provided first-hand details of their efforts.

“I always loved climbing and being able to help people,” Strode shared about his boyhood. “When I found out you could climb trees for a living I knew it was for me. My dad would leave home to go help others that had disaster relief like a tsunami, hurricane, tornado, etc. As soon as I was old enough he asked if I would want to help with hurricane Michael and after that I went to California and took a tree climbing course.”

He started by clearing trees damaged by wildfires.

“Disaster relief has pretty much (been) what I’ve always done since getting into tree work,” he wrote. “I have seen families lose everything. I’ve seen them be so appreciative from the work I’m doing to help them get back to normal. You can never know what to expect with tree work; you have to always be prepared and make sure you and others around you are safe.”

The couple’s journey for Helene relief efforts is something they want to pass along to their children.

“My son and daughter will know how to help others and I can’t wait to teach them,” he said. “My daughter is only two and already loves getting into a tree. I also get to work with family every time I’m on a job. I’m teaching Emmylou and I’m able to work alongside my spouse. I get to run jobs with my father. And one day I will be able to work alongside my children if this is what they want to do, but at least I will be able to teach them how to help others and help earth. I can truly say I love what I do so that means I will never work a day in my life right?”

His wife shared her experiences in a message from the road.

“You don’t realize how bad a storm is by just seeing pictures,” Emmylou wrote. “You can tell where some places got hit harder than others, but actually driving through the towns and helping them get it cleared up is when you realize just how bad it was. Many are still going without electricity and have absolutely no idea when they will get it back. Many who haven’t returned to their homes and have no idea that they have a tree laying on top of their house.”

She, too, hopes their children will learn about serving others.

“My heart aches for everyone that has to go through this and continue going through it with belongings and family they have lost,” she wrote. “I really wish we could be in more than one place at once. It’s hard being away from our babies, but they will know what mommy and daddy are doing to help other families. One day they will be helping us do this and I hope it makes their hearts just as warm as it does ours.”

Woody Bogler Trucking Company of Rosebud is also coordinating donation efforts through Missouri Synod Lutheran Church in North Carolina. They are accepting water, Gatorade, cleaning supplies, diapers and baby formula, pet food, food, new clothing and hygiene products. To connect with Thomas, call or text 615-881-5614. For questions regarding Woody Bogler’s efforts, call 314-591-2502 or 314-581-1099.