WOOD RIVER, Ill. – Churches on the Streets are calling for volunteers and donations to support their disaster relief efforts in response to Hurricane Milton.
“We are as a community gathering together to help those in desperate need for disaster relief in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Southern Florida. So we’re out here gathering a ton of items: non-perishable items, baby items, clothing new or used, gently used clothing, water, anything. Just anything that can help those in desperate need,” manager Jen Valdes said.
Trucks will be leaving from Wood River, Illinois, with supplies bound for North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Churches on the Streets are asking for more help to keep their mission going strong.
“Matlacha, Pine Island, they were horribly devastated after Ian. They’re still cleaning up after that, then they got hit by Helene and then Milton. So we are setting up a command center on the island there and dispersing to different people in need,” co-founder and executive director Angela Valdes said.
Volunteers are needed Saturday and beyond to greet, sort, and organize donations at 209 Old St. Louis Rd., where collection efforts will occur through the weekend. The help is needed Saturday, Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as well as 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The group recently served over 1,200 people in North Carolina and is now preparing to drive a second trip to Florida. The needs are urgent—baby items, non-perishable food, hygiene items, tarps, and even pet supplies are essential for the communities still reeling from the devastation.
“Well, it’s just heart wrenching, you know. You look at the community, and you see babies and moms and those just desperate looking for help. Looking for those to have hope and healing to love on others. And so, it just means a lot,” Jen said.
Churches on the Streets has a long history of helping both the homeless and disaster victims across multiple states, but they can’t do it alone.
If you would like to donate online, volunteer, or want to drop off donations, you can visit their website here for more information or message them here. 100 percent of the donations will go to the hurricane relief effort for those who need it most.
