HAZLETON, Pa. — The Hazleton City Police Department on North Church Street has collected donations for Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina.
"We were reached out to by one of the students at Mahanoy Area High School that they were going to be doing a drive and wanted to know if we could assist them in being a location, people can drop donations off to," said Jessica Surkin, Hazleton Public Information Officer.
The police department started collecting donations early Friday and had a van full of supplies by the end of the morning. Officer Surkin says with the community's help, they have already sent truckloads full of supplies down south.
"We came in Monday, and our lobby was full. So we took a whole entire cargo van load down to the school, and we've also taken, I believe it was three truckloads between here and the Berwick YMCA, who is also another point to take down to Blaze Alexander Mazda," explained Officer Surkin.
The department received pet food, nonperishable food items, plastic containers, blankets, clothing, and baby supplies.
"Diapers, formula, just everything. I mean, these people lost everything, so they need everything," added Officer Surkin.
Officer Surkin says victims are not the only ones needing this support. Volunteers who are on-site helping in North Carolina also need the essentials.
"So there's volunteers who are out in the front lines. There's several companies out there who are, you know, taking mules up into the mountain with backpacks full of supplies for people who can't get down off of that mountain right now. And that's the only way it's accessible is by horseback, or you know, rock scrolling or something like that. They also need stuff to be able to sustain themselves while they're going out and looking for those victims."
Officer Surkin says she can't believe the overwhelming support from the community.
"I mean, it's amazing. These people lost everything. So, anything we can do here in Pennsylvania to help them down in North Carolina, and it looks like it's also going to be in Florida, we're willing to help. We're a community that helps."
The Hazleton City Police Department is no longer accepting donations for Hurricane Helene victims. Officer Surkin says the department will start collecting donations for those impacted by Hurricane Milton after the storm if needed.