For several days since Hurricane Helene, food and other essentials of life have been coordinated and distributed at a central local in Toombs County, but as of Wednesday afternoon, that center has close, However, that doesn’t mean there still isn’t help available to those who need it.
Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper sad the former Lasseter dealership near Santa Claus will no longer serves for people to pick up food but will remain a hub for warehousing the large amounts of donations that continue to flow into the area.
“People who need food and other items will now need to go through the Salvation Army,” he said. “They are equipped and prepared to handle this type of need in the community.”
Mayor Roper said that while most people have come together to help each other, there will always be some of take advantage of a situation and unfortunately, there have been people who have been observed going through the line multiple times a day and although the community wants everyone’s needs met, when supplies begin to dwindle and become lower, it could negatively impact those who really are in need of the food.
Now two weeks out from the most violent storm possibly ever seen in Toombs County Mayor Roper says he is thankful to the people not just of the city in which he was elected and represents, but to the entire community of Toombs County.
“It’s just been amazing,” he said. “When you think about where we were two weeks ago and where we are now. Things are getting back to normal. Our governmental offices are reopened, grocery and retail stores are operating regularly, churches are open, and life is slowly returning to what it was before. Looks Great, our debris removal contractor has removed hundreds of thousands of debris and taken it to the landfill for proper disposal. Most of the power has been restored. There are just so many people to thank and although some people may not think they’ve done much, if they picked up a chainsaw, they have helped. You know, this storm may have permanently changed our landscape, but it will never change our resolve. Toombs County people are resilient. We will come through this and will be stronger on the other side.”