Red Cross: Community’s response to calls for donations was ‘overwhelming’

The Columbus community came together in force to donate thousands of pounds of supplies to evacuees sheltering from Hurricane Irma, said Jay Lawrence, a spokesman from the American Red Cross.

“The response from Columbus has been simply overwhelming,” he said. “We have thousands of pounds of donated goods, materials, bottled water, toiletries, and blankets. We’re just so grateful, and we want to thank everybody.”

About 600 people are still staying at the Civic Center, with another 40 or so staying at the second shelter at Frank Chester Recreation Center, Lawrence said. More than 6,500 people are staying at shelters across Georgia, and more than 40 evacuation shelters like those in Columbus are set up throughout the state.

Lawrence said that the Red Cross is in a good place right now for physical donations, but that it is still in need of monetary donations to see to other needs and to prepare to care for people in the longer term.

“With money, we can buy everything we need, and we can use that money for the next time there is a disaster,” Lawrence said.

“Another way people can help is by giving their time and starting the process of becoming a Red Cross volunteer — like I am. And I find it very meaningful.”

Lawrence said people can donate or sign up to become volunteers at redcross.org or by calling the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS. You can also donate $10 immediately by texting “Irma” to 90999.

Now, as Irma begins moving out of the state tonight and on toward Alabama and Tennesee, the Red Cross will begin entering a transition period for how best to serve the evacuees who must now begin planning when to return to their homes.

“It’s up to the people who are stayting here to determine when they feel like its safe to return home. We may need to eventually combine the shelters or change things as time goes on, but it’s all about doing what we can for them,” Lawrence said.

This story was originally published September 11, 2017 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Red Cross: Community’s response to calls for donations was ‘overwhelming’."