ST. LOUIS – Church groups and everyday people from across the bi-state area are bringing basic necessities directly to families impacted by the devastation left behind from Hurricane Helene. 

“Well, it seems like Uncle Sam has been a little slow to react, and you know, in times of trouble, we’ve got to help each other out,” Kendall Iglehart said. “I bought dog food, cat food, shovels, rakes, gloves, and feminine hygiene products. I even got a couple of toys for the dogs cause I’m sure their toys got washed away.”

The donations were dropped off by the trunk load.

“The list came from Ashville to us. So, Ashville, North Carolina, put one out, and we looked and said, ‘OK, what is really, really needed?’ It is just a mess,” organizer Debbie Dillon added.

Dillon is the driving force behind the donation site in Columbia, Illinois. She got involved in relief efforts after watching videos of Helene’s destruction.

“Hygiene products in general toothbrushes, things like that. Brushes combs, and feminine products. Those are probably some of the things we really haven’t seen a lot of right now,” she said.

The truck full of donations will meet up with a group of churches from the destruction zone in Tennessee. The donations will go directly to families in need.

“They have absolutely nothing. I can’t imagine going through that. My heart goes out to them. It is tragic,” Iglehart said.