A Monroe County business is hoping to bring some relief to the victims of Hurricane Helene. The husband and wife team plan to deliver donations they’re collecting to affected Tennessee residents later this month
Dawn Gillow moved to tears as she describes the devastation friends who have become family in Tennessee are facing. Their Smoky Mountain communities have been completely wiped out.
Gillow says, "They’re going to be without water for months."
Gillow and her husband Kevin were visiting the state when Hurricane Helene hit. Luckily the area where they have their timeshare wasn’t affected. But Gillow’s heart is broken seeing the destruction of the place she loves.
Gillow says, "I already knew what I wanted to do and my husband is very good about knowing what I want and we sat down on Monday and I said we need to do something and he said ok and I said I want to do a drive."
In just 48 hours the couple which own Gillow’s Tax Service in Smithfield Township posted this plea on their business’ Facebook page and raised around 5,000 dollars worth of supplies and money.
Gillow says, "The response that we got to help these families was overwhelming and they continue to pour in and can’t thank people enough for what they are giving us."
The plan is to be the replenishment team. They’re going to personally deliver the items later this month when people are running out of the first wave of supplies. So they’re going to need as much as they can collect.
Kevin Gillow says, "Nonperishable items, cat food, dog food, pet supplies, kid supplies, anything that will give them comfort."
They’d like to first help the people they know and then give back to the greater community.
Kevin Gillow says, "We feel it’s our obligation to help them because they go and help us and give us, when we’re down their on vacation, they make sure everything runs smooth so now it’s our turn to give back to them."
Items can be dropped off at their office inside the DLP Professional Building on Seven Bridge Road or you can just call Gillow’s Tax Service if you’d like donate before October 15th. The owners hope to continue to bring people together to make a difference by creating their own nonprofit in Monroe County.