Immediately after Hurricane Helene ravished the area in late September 2024, an action group was formed with representatives from Toombs County and the cities of Vidalia and Lyons to help those affected by the storm. The group adopted the name Toombs Strong, and the efforts of the group have proven successful, but now that progress is at risk.

Even responders from outside the confinements of the damaged area came to render aid including three groups of Mennonite volunteer construction crews who are currently working in Toombs County repairing roofs and stabilizing homes for families who are under insured or uninsured, many who are elderly residents or who have children in the home.

Lyons City Manager Jason Hall said that $50,000 is needed in the next two weeks to keep crews here through the end of the month but without the funds, the work will unfortunately have to cease and there are more than 50 homes still in dire need of attention.

Ashley Garner of Gardens of Hope, a Red Cross disaster mitigation partner, is coordinating project management for the recovery effort and while the labor is donated, materials must still be covered.

Donations to Toombs Strong are being overseen by Patricia Dixon, longtime Executive Director of the United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counites, and all funds donated on behalf of Toombs County will be used strictly for work within the county.

Donations are tax deductible and you can donate through the Toombs Strong Fund website at toombsstrong.com, and by contacting the United Way at 912-537-2776.

Hall concluded by saying, “This community has already shown incredible generosity. We are asking for one more push - $50,000 in two weeks – to keep hope alive for families who are still waiting for their homes to be safe again.”