Donations of new clothes, hygiene items, cleaning supplies and hardware are being accepted to aid in recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene swept through the Southeast, leaving behind a wide swath of destruction.

As residents in the path of the massive storm face the daunting task of assessing, cleaning up and rebuilding, Center City Church launched a hurricane relief effort to deliver much-needed supplies.

The church is committed to helping rebuild lives, said Executive Pastor Mark Mielnik, who is leading the effort.

“Our greatest desire is to love God and love people,” Mielnik said, and through the relief effort, the church has “the opportunity to put words into action.”

“We mourn with those who mourn, but we can also do our part to provide some hope for these communities,” he said, in asking for donations that “will bring hope to what looks like a hopeless situation.”

The church, which has partnered with The Joseph Storehouse through The Lift Church in Sevierville, Tennessee, is seeking donations of hardware and cleaning supplies, such as tubs with lids, box knives, hammers, flat pry bars, flat shovels, Tyvek suits, wheelbarrows, floor squeegees, large heavy-duty garbage bags, mosquito repellent, scoops, shovels, rakes, leather gloves, long rubber gloves, small scrub brushes, push brooms, battery-operated fans, all sizes of batteries and cleaning supplies like mops, brooms and buckets.

Many people lost everything they own, so the church is also collecting new clothing in all sizes — from underwear and bras to socks, shoes, sandals, sneakers, shirts and pants.

Basic necessities and toiletries are also being accepted, including bottles and jugs of water, toilet paper, paper towels, paper dining products and plasticware.

New towels and washcloths, laundry detergent, dry shampoo, first aid kits, bars of soap, hairbrushes, deodorant, antiperspirant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, baby food and formula, baby wipes, baby and adult diapers, activities for kids and more are being accepted as well.

Individuals, businesses and organizations wishing to take part in the relief effort should drop off smaller quantities at Center City Church, 1220 12th Ave., Altoona, between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For larger donations, the church is arranging pick-up or drop-off at a designated Relief Storage Headquarters. To schedule a delivery or request a pick-up, contact the church office at 814-201-2454.

Mielnik said the relief effort will continue until needs are met.

“Our plan is to get these supplies to them as soon as we can and continue as long as the supplies come in,” Mielnik said. “We are deeply grateful for the community’s prayers and support in making this possible.”

For more information or for the full list of needed items, email hello@centercityaltoona.com or contact Center City Church at 814-201-2454.

The church is not alone in working to help those in need, as two local businesses and the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania also announced aid efforts.

REA Energy crews assisting

Six linemen from REA Energy Cooperative Inc. were dispatched to North Carolina to assist in efforts to restore power to the region, according to Stacy Hilliard.

Four linemen from the Indiana headquarters and two from the Ebensburg district office left on Tuesday to perform the mutual aid, she stated in a news release. The men, along with other line personnel and contractors from various states will assist Blue Ridge Energy based in Sparta, North Carolina.

The crews will be working to restore power to nearly 29,700 members, the release states.

REA Energy serves members in the Pennsylvania counties of Armstrong, Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Indiana, Jeffers and Westmoreland.

Sheetz supports relief efforts

Sheetz is supporting employees who have been directly affected by Hurricane Helene and is also working to keep stores open to serve the community, said Nick Ruffner, PR manager at Sheetz.

In the hours before the massive storm hit North Carolina, Facebook posts shared by residents affected by the hurricane show a Sheetz district manager directing traffic that had been backed up for hours, as drivers were anxious to get gas to evacuate the area Sunday morning.

Jasmine DiVine Holland — at the Asheville, N.C., Sheetz — was given a shout out by hundreds of people, with one stating that Holland “is living this nightmare, too, but putting others before herself.”

While not directly commenting on the posts, Ruffner said Sheetz stores remain open and are continuing to serve the communities.

“At Sheetz, our thoughts are with the people and communities whose lives have been upended by Hurricane Helene,” he said, adding the company is providing support to the American Red Cross to help disaster relief efforts in western North Carolina.

Sheetz is also “actively supporting our employees who have been directly affected. Their safety and well-being are our top priority, and we are working closely with them to ensure they receive the assistance and resources they need.”

Sheetz will “continue to explore additional ways to offer support to our employees, customers, and communities in the region, as we stand together to rebuild and recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” Ruffner stated.

Volunteers sought

The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania issued an urgent appeal for volunteers who are willing to travel this fall to support emergency shelters for major national disaster relief efforts.

Interested volunteers can sign up at redcross.org/volunteer. All candidates must complete necessary training and be able to commit to a two-week deployment. Applicants who don’t have disaster experience, but have supervision, management or organization skills; a strong desire to help others; and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, are encouraged to apply.

“When disasters upend lives, Red Cross volunteers are on the frontlines providing refuge and comfort to people in their darkest hours,” said Jorge Martinez, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. “They truly are the heart and soul of the Red Cross — comprising 90 percent of our workforce — to help ensure families never face a crisis alone.”

So far, more than 1,000 Red Cross disaster responders are on the ground across 10 states devastated by Hurricane Helene in the Southeast, including hard-hit North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. More than 30 volunteers are from the Greater Pennsylvania organization, according to a news release.

Martinez said Red Cross emergency response vehicles have been deployed from all over the country, including several from the Pennsylvania fleet, to distribute meals, water and critical relief supplies in some of the hardest-hit areas that are accessible.

For those unable to travel, the Red Cross is seeking volunteers for local support efforts and is issuing a call for blood donations.

Local residents are reminded to avoid the Southeast regions hit by Hurricane Helene, unless with a reputable agency.

“Do not independently travel to volunteer in flooded areas,” the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency stated in a post.

Emergency response in North Carolina remains focused on life-saving missions, the agency stated, adding that many areas do not have reliable food, water, utilities and communications.

“First responders are still busy trying to find and rescue people. … All available resources should be reserved for survivors,” the agency said.