When Hall countians help out, it's an "outpouring of support," a local sheriff's deputy said Friday morning.
Deputy Stephen Wilbanks of the Hall County Sheriff's Office was on hand as inmates and authorities prepared to load a tractor trailer with supplies bound for east Tennessee.
Those staple items, such as water, baby formula, diapers, linens and clothing, are for victims and public safety agencies impacted by the deadly wildfires in the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg areas.
The sheriff's office set up the collection of items this week. Individuals, companies and agencies stepped up to meet the demand.
Wilbanks said the idea to help started with Sheriff Gerald Couch.
"Of course in 1998, we were the recipients of generous outpouring of aid from other agencies and people when the tornado struck north Hall, so he (Couch) felt like this was a good opportunity to both pay it back and pay it forward."
The sheriff's office mounted the relief effort in short order, beginning the collection on Wednesday.
By Friday morning, items were rolling in to the loading area from collection sites including the sheriff's office's headquarters, north precinct and south precinct.
Even the trucks used in the effort were donated, with the rig and driver for the trip to Tennessee from Syfan Logistics and Turbo Truck Center and a moving truck for use between collection sites in the county from Penske.
Wilbanks said while the situation in fire damaged areas of Tennessee is fluid, there are several collections sites, according to the fire command center.
"This particular shipment is going to what used to be the old Boyd's Bears Warehouse up there. They have personnel on site that'll be present to off load and then distribute as necessary," Wilbanks said.
List of known corporate and agency donors.
Numerous individuals contributed.
- Anonymous – Pet food and hygiene supplies
- Cherokee Feed & Seed – Pet food
- Dish Network
- Dunwell Services – Water and pet food
- Fieldale Farms – Water
- Georgia Mountain Food Bank
- Hall County Parks & Leisure
- Hideaway Bay Marina, Lawton Place Manor and Fish Tales – Soft drinks, water, linens and paper products
- Lakeland Baptist Church – Cases of water, cases of kitty litter and blankets
- Lowe’s of Gainesville – 40 pallets
- Northeast Georgia Health System – Baby formula
- 129 Salvage - Blankets and cots
- Penske – Supplied truck
- Petsmart of Flowery Branch – Toys (stuffed animals)
- The Puppy Pantry – Pet food
- Riverside Military Academy – Winter coats and rain coats
- Smith Bell Petroleum – Water and diapers
- South Hall Neighborhood Watch groups; Reunion, Sterling On The Lake, Reflections, Deaton Creek and The Preserve at Mulberry
- Syfan Logistics and Turbo Truck Center – Supplied tractor trailer and driver
- Trane – Paper products and water
- Turner Wood and Smith – Water, linen items, pet food, baby products, hygiene items and paper products
- University of North Georgia – 20 cases of water
- Wilheit Packaging – Boxes
Source: Hall County Sheriff's Office
