LEBANON, Pa. — As people in the south start to see some of the extensive damage from Hurricane Helene, a church nonprofit in Lebanon County is holding an auction to help with relief efforts for natural disasters.
“The better we do, the more help we can give," said Tom Fritz, a chairman for the Brethren Disaster Relief Auction.
On Friday, hundreds of bidders flocked to the Lebanon Valley Expo Center for the annual Brethren Disaster Relief Auction. People spent the day bidding on hundreds of items, such as quilts, gift baskets, and livestock.
Tom Fritz said all the money being raised goes towards helping people impacted by natural disasters in the U.S. and around the world.
“We also do local work, primarily supporting volunteers that go to Brethren Disaster Ministry projects," said Fritz.
Since 1977, the auction has raised more than $19 million for disaster relief efforts. With Hurricane Helene making landfall overnight, some of the money will go towards volunteers being sent to Florida.
“There’s no way we could fund all these volunteer programs without all this support," said Roy Winter, the executive director for Brethren Disaster Relief Ministries.
Winter said the organization is gathering volunteers to support relief efforts in the south. He said volunteers will help set up childcare centers for families displaced by the hurricane.
“It gives everybody a break from the chaos of children running around," said Winter. "It also gives parents a chance to focus on what they need to begin their recovery process.”
As each item is sold, bidders are helping volunteers try to help as many people as possible.
“We hope everyone will come out to support the volunteers; support Disaster Relief Ministries; and support disaster relief and recovery," said Winter.
The Brethren Disaster Relief Auction runs both Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.