Texas semi-truck brings flood donations to Bristol Motor Speedway
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — A semi-truck filled with donations from Texas arrived at Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday to help victims of Hurricane Helene.
News Channel 11's sister station in Wichita Falls, KFDX and Texoma's FOX, worked with a car dealership and other organizations to load the truck with donations for people in the Tri-Cities.
Herb Easley Motors, KFDX and Texoma's FOX, Union Square Credit Union, the Junior League of Wichita Falls, Texoma Freight and the people in the Wichita Falls area contributed to the donations.
Amanda Delp, the director of the Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center, told News Channel 11 that it means a great deal to still receive much-needed items from people outside the area.
"We have certainly feel the love from all over the country right here in this region," Delp said. "We have seen supplies pour in from all over the country, and we cannot be more blessed with what has come in here at Bristol Motor Speedway."
"Our community seems to always answer the bell when there is a need," a statement from Herb Easley Motors reads. "It was heartbreaking to see the people on the news waiting for help. We made our post on [Facebook] after Helene made landfall. And then the other hit Florida, so we had lots of people come out to our dealership and drop supplies. Our community really came together for the victims. We couldn't have got the word out without our great relationship with KFDX. They started telling their viewers, and people came into Wichita Falls from towns and communities all around their viewing area."
The trailer was full of donations like bottled water and electrolyte drinks, canned goods, protein bars, hand sanitizer, blankets, baby wipes and diapers, baby food pouches, pet food and feminine hygiene products.
Delp said the need for donations has not stopped more than a month after the hurricane caused millions in property damage and claimed several lives. Several impacted people now need items for the long term as recovery and rebuilding take place.
"We still have items within the warehouse that are more of those emergent type needs, and those are continuing to go out in the community as you can see behind me with the forklifts moving," Delp said. "We're getting distributions and supplies out to those organizations that are within our communities that serve those folks."
According to Delp, the disaster relief center is also putting together boxes over the next few weeks dedicated to providing Thanksgiving meals for families, winter clothing for children and necessities for disabled veterans.
