EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — Help is on the way for residents of the southeast from all over the country.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army are dispatching volunteers and hot meals to victims of Helene.
"Volunteers are what make us strong in northeast Pennsylvania," said Sherry Nealon-Shrive the exec. Dir., American Red Cross Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter.
Volunteers from NEPA are joining efforts from all over the country to help victims of Hurricane Helene.
Daniel Rosado of Scranton is a Red Cross volunteer.
"The garbage gets tied up you toss it away you close this one back up," says Rosado.
He left Sunday for Charlotte, North Carolina in this emergency response vehicle.
"Everything they had got wiped out. Imagine waking up and everything you had is gone," stated Rosado.
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Rosado is one of two dozen Red Cross volunteers from Pennsylvania who have deployed to help victims of Hurricane Helene, but Red Cross officials say they desperately need more.
"When you see miles and miles of destruction. We are there right now we are setting up shelters and shelters and shelters," stated Nealon-Shrive.
The Salvation Army is another organization on the ground amidst the devastation.
"There's so much, awh man, so much that people have lost," added Winborn.
Volunteers Chris Winborn and Mark Jacukowicz both of Wilkes-Barre spoke to 28/22 News Wednesday.
They drove a truck filled with 11 pallets of cleanup kits to Tampa, Florida on Saturday.
"A lot of devastation, see a lot of people trying to get back on their feet but a lot of damage," continued Jacukowicz.
"They are down there for two weeks essentially, doing logistics logistics side of stuff moving supplies from warehouses into the field across the impacted area," said Luke Rodgers the Divisional Director of Emergency Disaster Services.
Both organizations are urging the public to assist with any monetary donations as well.
"If you could text Helene to 9099 your donation will go right to the hurricane relief system right now to respond to Helene," stated Nealon-Shrive.
Or go to help SalvationArmy.org.
"A big thing too for us is 100% of disaster donations go to survivors," says Rodgers.
Volunteers are deployed for two weeks at a time but officials say it will take four to six weeks of work to clean up the hardest hit areas.
"So if somebody's thinking about helping please please help, what harm can it do you to help someone else," added Winborn
Here is how you can help Hurricane Helene victims.
To make a financial gift to support Hurricane Helene relief:
Donate online: www.HelpSalvationArmy.org
Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
Donate by mail:
The Salvation Army, P.O. BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301
Please designate Disaster Relief Hurricane Helene on all checks.
