Over the past three days, Project GIFT collected hygiene items, paper goods, cleaning supplies, baby items, individually packaged snacks, ready-to-eat foods and more to help communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. 

In West Georgia 

In the last 72 hours, seven tractor trailers were completely filled with water, non-perishable food items, cleaning products and other essential items. The collected items will be distributed to impacted communities in Southeast Georgia. 

Project GIFT volunteers and community members worked together to collect necessary resources for those effected by Hurricane Helene.

In Douglas, Georgia

Coffee County residents are still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. The storm caused widespread power outages, downed trees and millions of dollars in property damage. Days after the storm, many residents were left without power or water, relying on non-perishable food items to survive.

"It's widespread destruction throughout the county. Not just one little area. It's the entire county," said Coffee County Emergency Management Director, Steve Carver. "I've been in the fire and public safety service for 34 years and I've never seen the destruction that we've had here. It looks like the middle of a war zone."

According to local news reports, one fatality in Coffee County was confirmed as a result of the storm. 

Georgia Power reports that more than 2,400 residents in Coffee County are still impacted by power outages.  

"We're looking at weeks of having people without power in the county," said Matt Seale, CEO of the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce. "To be without power for such a long period of time is not something we're used to, but I've never seen a community pull together more than Douglas and Coffee County right now."

At Southwire's Bremen Campus

Collection efforts at Bremen were featured by local news outlets as team members rallied together to gather supplies. Items will be sent to the Carolinas to support communities affected by the hurricane, helping residents to recover and rebuild.

"This is really what our organization is about," said Niles Voelkel, site leader at Southwire's Bremen Campus. "We’re a manufacturing company, but anytime we can help out, we do.  Project GIFT gives inspiration for tomorrow, and this is the type of stuff that makes it fun to come to work."

At Bremen, volunteers collected more than five pallets of food, seven pallets of water, three pallets of baby food and one pallet of PPE kits and foot warmers. 

Multiple Southwire sites are also collecting items, including Hawesville, Ky., Youngsville and Huntersville, N.C. 

Items collected from these sites will be delivered to impacted communities in North Carolina.

How You Can Help
Southwire is also partnering with Water Mission to collect monetary donations for impacted communities across the state of North Carolina. With your help, Water Mission can provide life-changing relief in response to the horrific damage throughout multiple cities in North Carolina.

To donate monetarily, please visit: https://cfwg.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1396  (please include “disaster relief” in the notes.)

For more information about Giving Back at Southwire, visit https://www.southwire.com/sustainability.