PICCA Joins Other Community Action Agencies to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene in NC - Scioto Post

Household items, winter clothing and office supplies sought

CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO (October 16, 2024) – Pickaway County Community ActionOrganization (PICCA) is joining sister agencies in Ohio to provide necessary supplies to victimsof Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

PICCA will begin collecting donated supplies at its offices at 469 E. Ohio Street on Monday,Oct. 21. PICCA is open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, and is looking to wrap upthe effort by Thursday, Oct. 24.

“Our thougths and prayers are with all victims of Hurricane Helene,” said PICCA ExecutiveDirector Becky Hammond. “We feel the need to do what we can to reduce the suffering of thepeople of that region, and help them regain a sense of normal.”

PICCA is working with the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA) toprovide household items, winter clothing and office supplies to victims, many of whom losteverything because a flooding and landslides spawned by the hurricane.

OACAA is coordinating a delivery on October 28 of supplies with the North CarolinaCommunity Action Association. A delivery will go to the Blue Ridge Community Action inMorganton, NC, which needs help getting items to residents after its building was floodedbecause of the storm.

The Blue Ridge Community Action lost all contents of its building, which was condemnedbecause of flooding (see photo). The organization is operating out of temporary locations for itsadministrative and program operations, childcare and adult day care programs.Four staff members of Blue Ridge Community Action lost their homes in the flood.

Items needed include: Winter clothes, coats, hats, and gloves for children and adults; Any household items from furniture to cleaning supplies; Other clothes and backpacks for children;

 Blankets are a major need; Sheets, pillowcases and other bedding; Office Supplies

“Community action agencies from across the nation are coming together to help our colleaguesat Blue Ridge Community Action, Hammond said. “We’re banding together to help them so thatthey can help local residents who are depending on the agency during this crisis.”

Bring donations to PICCA’s offices, or contact Hammond at (740) 477-1655, if you havequestions. There also is a GoFundMe account has been established to collect donations to help inthe recovery: https://gofund.me/c79dbf99

Local donations will be transported to Highland County Community Action Organization inHillsboro on Friday, Oct. 25, and loaded onto larger trucks for transport to North Carolinabeginning on Oct. 28, Hammond said.