CAMDEN — By BRADLY GILL
Staff writer
Thousands of dollars of supplies for the victims of Hurricane Harvey have been collected at the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Department in a trailer donated by Woodfield Transportation of Camden.
The Sponer family, Camden Wholesale, The Perfects, Jamal Haynie, Jamarcus Haynie, La’Kia Haynie, Allen’s Restaurant, Mac’s Fresh Market, the Camden Fire Department and Ralph Haymond Insurance are all featured on the OCSD's official Facebook page for doing their part to help the hurricane victims.
Though the response over the last week has been overwhelming, Ouachita County Judge Robert McAdoo says there is still plenty of room left in the trailer for more necessities.
“It’s going good, but we could use a lot more items," McAdoo said. "We don’t want to run a truck without it being pretty full. When we get it to capacity, we’re going to head that way."
"That way," specifically, is Dallas’s Kay Bailey Hutchinson - which is acting as a mega shelter for the residents of Texas displaced by Harvey, according to McAdoo.
Items needed include:
• Baby supplies: Baby formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, powder, baby clothes, blankets, shampoo, baby body wash and baby lotion
• Hygiene items: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner, combs, brushes, razors, shaving cream, feminine products, deodorant, soap, hand sanitizer and adult diapers
• Men/Women/Children: Underwear, socks, T-shirts, sweatpants, bras, raincoats and blankets
• Household goods: Trash bags, flashlights, batteries, latex gloves, paper towels, toilet paper, mops, brooms, work gloves, disinfectant wipes and first aid kits.
McAdoo also acknowledged how the youth in the county have supported relief efforts in the wake of the tragedy.
“Mary Joe Taylor - she’s the preacher at Pleasant Ridge Assembly of God - she brought a group of kids that had raised money and had a trunk full of items to donate," McAdoo shared.
“I’ve been really proud of the community and their support for it."
Other entities throughout Arkansas are also still continuing to donate to the relief of the effects of Hurricane Harvey.
Georgia-Pacific in Crossett has announced that it is donating two tractor-trailer loads of Angel Soft® bath tissue for distribution to Hurricane Harvey victims in Texas, the company stated in a news release.
The product is being distributed through the non-profit disaster relief organization, Convoy of Hope.
“Georgia-Pacific has a heart for people, and when natural disasters occur such as the catastrophic flooding in Texas, we deploy our resources to help in any way we can,” said Jennifer King, public affairs manager for Georgia-Pacific Crossett. “Many of us have family in the Houston area who have been directly impacted by this storm. We will remain attentive to the needs in southeast Texas and respond accordingly.”
Company-wide, Georgia-Pacific has provided around $100,000 in products including paper towels and bath tissue to Convoy of Hope. In addition, Georgia-Pacific’s parent company, Koch Industries, is committing more than $1 million to organizations providing immediate and long-term disaster relief, including the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the Emergency Assistance Foundation. An additional $250,000 has been contributed to establish the Koch Employee Assistance Fund with the Emergency Assistance Foundation, which is designed to specifically aid Koch Industry employees who have suffered losses.
To make a tax-deductible donation to Convoy of Hope disaster relief services, visit www.convoyofhope.org/donate/disasterservices ,or text the word CONVOY to 50555.