Columbus residents are leading an effort to help victims of Helene

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) – A massive cleanup is underway across our planet’s north and east as people deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

The storm left millions of people without electricity, food and necessities. Communities across the country are stepping up to help, including those in the Chattahoochee Valley.

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm, quickly moved through Georgia and South Carolina, and made landfall in North Carolina as a tropical storm. The storm caused catastrophic damage in Asheville, North Carolina.

We spoke with Columbia native Hayden Plemmons, who was in Asheville during the storm. She says that after seeing the damage she caused, she knew she had to do something to help those affected.

“We really started thinking, you know, we left on a Friday night not knowing what we were leaving. We started seeing it all on the news and I was eventually going back to Asheville, but I didn’t want to do it empty-handed,” Plemmons said.

Paul Walrath, who grew up 30 minutes outside of Asheville, also lends a helping hand, taking food, water and more.

“I’ll also take a 125-gallon and drive it around the neighborhood so they don’t have to wait two hours in line. And I will fill every canister I can,” Walrath said.

Cornerstone Church of God in Columbus is also uniting to help those affected by Helene’s disease in Lyons, Georgia. Youth Pastor Keegan Gross says donations will be delivered on Thursday.

“I just feel like it’s my duty. We all know that in the beginning we were on a straight path. It might as well be us and from my point of view, if it’s me and my family that needs help, I just want to be the one to bring some light to them,” added Keegan Gross.

East Tennessee was also hit hard by Helene. I spoke with Lindsay Woodson, who grew up in the area. She says seeing photos of family members made her feel useless.

“Seeing where I grew up, seeing the roads and bridges that I knew all my life disappear and the houses literally being washed away, I mean, it was really sad. So I felt I had to do something. I felt so helpless being here,” said Lindsay Woodson.

If you would like to help, you can contact the following sites:

https://www.facebook.com/paulk9mp?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/share/TEJqJLM7H6JA2Ynf/?mibextid=qi2Omg

https://www.facebook.com/share/watK47c15PFBY4TC/?mibextid=WC7FNe

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