East Ridge, Collegedale come together for Helene relief

A caravan leaving East RIdge to take donated supplies for Hurricane Helene victims to Collegedale.

COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF)- The death toll from Hurricane Helene is now at least 223 across the Southeast.

There are still hundreds missing.

As communities to our east try to begin the process of recovery, many in the Chattanooga area have gathered to help.

The cities of Collegedale and East Ridge have been taking donations all week for Helene victims.

Friday, all of East Ridge’s donations were taken to the Collegedale Commons, which required a lot of helping hands.

Cameron McAllister, Director of Community and Economic Development for East Ridge said, “Today is a huge success, it’s not necessarily for East Ridge, or Collegedale, or the Chattanooga area. It’s huge for the whole state of Tennessee.”

The total amount of supplies now collected by the Collegedale Commons is staggering. 

The Vice Mayor of College, Tim Johnson, said, ” e’re probably well over 120,000 pounds now, and that was yesterday. We will be closer to 175,000 pounds>’

East Ridge says they believe they collected over 2,000 cases of water to be given to victims of Hurricane Helene.

McAllister said, “We created somewhat of a rough plan. We had no what type of outreach opportunities this would create, nor did we know what kind of impact we could make with the donations that have made.”

The spirit of those wanting to help can’t be understated.

Johnson recalled, “I had a lady come up yesterday, and said, “I don’t have much to give.” She had a small pack of water and two packs of canned goods and she told me, “I’m on food stamps and I don’t have a lot to give.”, and I mean… It’s pretty emotional.”

The Collegedale Commons will be still taking donations tomorrow.

We have a list of other donation drives here.