I should have written this a couple of weeks ago, but to be completely honest I was too emotional about our experience to fully put into words how I felt about the experience.
When my husband first approached me wanting to donate to East Tennessee Farmers who were impacted by Hurricane Helene, I really did not think it would be much more than us coordinating a pick-up of our donation by Disaster Relief Haulers. (For context: We had sent a few trailer loads of hay to farms devasted by wildfires a few years ago, so my expectations for this donation was much the same, in that other people would pick up and transport the supplies on our behalf. End of story.)
Then Travis called to inform me that his request to a local business to buy fence posts immediately turned into that business donating two bundles of their own. A phone call to a friend later, and another two bundles were procured. The snowball effect started and began rolling rather quickly.
Travis mentioned that since we already had six bundles of fence posts donated, that maybe we should ask others if they would like to donate, so that Disaster Relief Haulers had a large donation to pick up at our farm, not just the bundles of fence posts.
A week later, farm friends, local businesses, neighbors and family had donated more supplies than we knew what to do with: fencing, building and cleaning supplies, hay and straw, not to mention a couple propane heaters and miscellaneous hardware and tools. A semi tractor and trailer, and multiple trucks and trailers were all donated to assist with the distribution of the donations.
This is what the farm community looks like. It’s farmers helping farmers. People helping people. It’s recognizing the greater needs of our fellow Americans and answering the call to help those even when we, ourselves, are in need.
The farmers in our area have endured a drought this summer that has significant and lasting impacts to the financial stability of many of our Ohio farm families. Yet, these same farmers were moved to help those who were impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Like most of us, I had seen pictures on social media of some of the devastation and felt empathy towards those who lost loved ones, homes, businesses, livestock and infrastructure to the flood waters.
What I didn’t realize until we were passing out donations was the impact our community could have on those in need, and the impact that this trip would have on our family.
Disaster Relief Efforts – October 19, 2024
Our 3-truck convoy from Eastern Ohio, joined Disaster Relief Haulers in Washington Court House, Ohio to travel to Newport, Tennessee where we would offload our supplies directly to the farmers at the Cocke County A&I Fairgrounds, in Newport, TN. Drivers and volunteers for the trip included my husband Travis and I, and our son Dylan; Doug Everett, Justin Scott and Chaylann Bamfield. We arrived in Newport around dinnertime.
Trucks and trailers were staged to allow for offloading. There were a few minutes of introductions and thank yous, and then the work began. Much of what was delivered had to be manually removed from the trucks and trailers and placed directly onto the farmer’s trucks and/or trailers or placed inside barns for storage until the supplies could be utilized.
Local Impact
Local stories were very similar in nature. Loss and devastation. Yet, everyone rallied together to help each other. There was no arguing. There was no grabbing for supplies. There was just gratefulness, patience and hope. God was here, standing alongside the victims. He was working through the donors, drivers and volunteers to bring the necessary items to those in need.
We met a woman who lost her home, petting zoo, and campground – the entire property engulfed by 30-ft high flood waters. She has no home, no business, and no viable land at this point. Yet, she waited patiently and hesitantly asked for a couple bales of straw and some fencing items to rebuild a fence for animals that managed to survive the flooding. What struck me the most, was her hesitancy to take much of anything. She was so desperate to share the donations that she was willing to take less than needed, so that others would leave with what they needed.
Another man expressed to us that he was grateful to see a semi load of fence posts enter the fairgrounds, as he has lost everything, including his home, business and farm. He announced to the entire group of volunteers and donors, “You all just can’t comprehend how grateful that we are. When you lose it all, you don’t understand just how grateful you are to have a pair of underwear to put on the next day, let alone have something to help rebuild your farm. I really appreciate you all. Thank you.”
An older gentleman let others ahead of himself, waiting until last for a turn to receive fence posts to rebuild the fence for his cows and hay. He admitted that he had lost a few cows and 800 round bales of hay to feed the remainder of his herd. He said to me, “I’m blessed to have a place to lay my head at night. The flood waters didn’t destroy my house and others have lost everything. They should go first.”
There were tears, hugs, and an undeniable pull to do more. I felt it myself, and still feel it today. That connection you get when you just click with someone and want to see them succeed. That desire to continue relief efforts even after you’re back home sleeping in your own bed. That nagging feeling that your life is blessed beyond reason and that you could donate half of your belongings and still have more than enough. The idea that we’re all just one disaster away from nothing. It keeps you up at night, urging you to do more.
Lasting impacts
As a family, we have talked about how long it will take for people to rebuild their lives after such devastation. We are determined not to forget the people we met on our trip. It will take months and years for them to rebuild, and we hope to make contributions to relief efforts on a periodic basis.
My husband and I are humbled to have had a small part in the relief efforts and hope that our part gleans more movement in the direction of generosity.
Together, we can make a difference. We can take our country back to a time when benevolence is the rule and not the exception.
Get involved
Disaster Relief Haulers continue to accept donations and plan disaster relief trips to hurricane ravaged areas, as well as other areas impacted by natural disasters. For monetary donations or to volunteer like we have, please visit https://www.disasterreliefhaulers.org.
Thank you to our donors
Thank you to the individuals and businesses who donated funds, supplies and time to the farmers in East Tennessee. Your generosity means everything to the men and women who received the supplies at the Cocke County A & I Fairgrounds, October 19, 2024.
Your donations included more than a semi load of fence posts, barbed wire, welded wire fencing, gates, steeples, fencing pliers, hammers, skids of water, cleaning supply buckets, straw, hay, hardware and MORE!!! We were able to transport and distribute directly to the farmers who will use these items to rebuild their livelihood.
Thank you to our donors:
Mark & Edith Ackerman
Michele Ackerman
Joe Affolter
Chaylann Bamfield
Anthony Beckley
Carl & Doris Crawford
Jason Dean
Rob & Elizabeth Garver
Sabrina & Taylor Midcap
JR Putnam Trucking
Mike & Amanda Smith
Samantha Trushel
Bucks & Briars Boer Goats
Burdette Farm LLC
Circle L Fencing
Cottage Hills Farms
D&J Sales and Service
Everett Grain Farms
Gladman Farms
J. Green Excavating
L&D Sales and Service
Lowe & Young Inc.
MHS Hardware
Ridgeview Fence LLC
Straight A Supply
The Market at Gladman Farms
Tractor Supply - Cadiz, OH
Willow Creek Farms/Kirke's Homemade Ice Cream
A special thank you to our loading and packing crews, drivers and the families/businesses who donated the semi, trucks and trailers. Without your generosity, tireless work and long hours behind the wheel, we could not have met our deadline to haul on Oct. 19th. In addition, we want to shout out to Disaster Relief Haulers for allowing us the freedom to collect donations within our own farming community on behalf of their organization and tagging along with their convoy to distribute supplies.
If we have missed a donor, please reach out and we will update our list immediately. It is not our intention to leave anyone out.
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