Local drive at Hub of Innovation brings hope, smiles
10/4/24, 4:00 PM
Local drive at Hub of Innovation brings hope, smiles
Originally from https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/local/2024/10/04/hub-of-innovation-augusta-brings-home-after-hurricane-helene/75515417007/
Hurricane Helene sent Augusta into survival mode, with thousands in the area still without power and water a week after the deadly storm blasted through the city and the Hub of Innovation Augusta jumped into action on Friday.
The Hub hosted a drive on Friday of mass proportions as hundreds of cars lined up throughout the parking lot of their west campus to receive food and supplies.
Millions of produce, diapers, wipes, period products, canned goods and water were repackaged into large to-go bags and dispersed drive-thru style to the public. The Hub also provided more than 500 hot meals.
The Hub is known as a place where nonprofits can pool together their resources and connections for the greater good of Augusta and surrounding areas. Volunteers from the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Augusta University and the Zeta PSI Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, amongst others. Even Mickey Mouse and Moana showed up, rolled up their sleeves and put a smile on children’s faces.
Executive director of the American Red Cross of East Central Georgia Susan Everitt estimates that more than 3,000 bags of goods were dispersed to the public by midday Friday, and they’re just getting started.
“We wanted to make sure that resources were being used wisely and efficiently, and we didn't want to have people have to go to five different stops to get things that we needed,” Everitt said.
“So we came up with the idea. Let's just get a big day, bring all of our resources together.
People can drive through, we'll put them in their cars. And then they can go away and hopefully be in a much better place.
“People are having such a difficult time now. We're not wanting to make extra work on anybody. And we know that gas has been scarce, you know, to this point, too. So we're working with the hub of innovation and there are hundreds of volunteers here today. It truly is a community event.”
The Hub Executive Director Britney Pooser said the sense of community and goodwill on display this week is what the organization is about.
“We will find you the resources to get what you need,” Pooser said, “so whether that be financial assistance, medical attention. … We have an on-site clinic but we only have one physician in that clinic.”
Volunteers like Dwanette Pulling of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority have been hopping around from organization to organization throughout the week hoping to pull their weight. Pulling, a native of Augusta and graduate of Paine College, said she had the opportunity to evacuate the area, but felt she was needed at home.
“I have a son who lives in Athens and as soon as it happened, you know, of course he started calling and saying, ‘Hey, you need to come here,’” Pulling said. “I told him I needed to be helping the community. I was like, I know I can come there and be comfortable, but I think I'm needed here within the community. I just did not want to leave. I wanted to, you know, just tough it through, see it through. And then at the same time help the community. I was born in Augusta.”
In addition to the drive, Community Foundation for the CSRA is just upstairs in The Hub building, and CEO Shell Berry and her staff have been working nonstop to secure monetary donations for Hurricane Helene relief. Berry stated the Community Foundation has raised more than $7 million in funding from various donors, including the Augusta National Golf Club, which donated $5 million.
Berry said the money will be carefully placed in areas of need, like immediate relief, short-term recovery, and long-term rebuilding. In the immediate aftermath, it will help provide essentials like food, shelter, water, medical care, and financial assistance, while also supporting local nonprofits through the Community Crisis Fund.
Everitt said the drive is just the beginning of what The Hub in partnership with the Red Cross, Community Foundation and Salvation Army has in the works. The Hub will be open daily as a pantry for the community to grab what they need until the next big drive is announced.
“The plan here is we're going to look and see what resources we have to be able to do it again,” Everitt said. “We'd love to be able to repeat this, but we understand that some nonprofits and other people are stretched. But the plan is to continue to be here.”