When the American Red Cross East Central Georgia's Executive Director Susan Everitt heard about the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene in Augusta, Ga., she knew she had to act quickly.
So she teamed up with the chapter's board members, a dedicated community volunteer, the Community Foundation of the Central Savannah River Area, and dozens of other community organizations to set up a one-day drive-through and walk-up service where people could donate food, water, baby formula, diapers, toiletries, and fresh produce, the Augusta Chronicle reports.
"Red Cross is built for this, but in a way that is inspiring," says Britney Pooser, executive director of the HUB for Community Innovation, a community-facing institution designed to bridge the gap between large institutions and local neighborhoods.
Thanks to the efforts of dozens of other community organizations, the HUB became the epicenter of relief efforts, serving as a place where volunteers and community members of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and ethnicities felt welcomed.
The Red Cross deployed mobile units to distribute essential items, including food, water, baby formula, diapers, toiletries, and fresh produce directly to neighbors in need.
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