Neighbors in Wakulla County donate items to Helene victims in Taylor County

• A donation drive organized by neighbors in Wakulla County will benefit Helene’s victims in Taylor County.
• Neighbors from Crawfordville and Sopchoppy helped.
• Watch the video and hear from them why it is important to keep the support going, regardless of the distance.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

Taylor County was hit hard by Hurricane Helene over a month ago, but neighbors across the counties are still working hard to support Helene’s victims in any way they can. I’m Kenya Cardonne in the Crawfordville area. A donation campaign organized by neighbors that we told you about earlier is in full swing and you still have time to help with the relief effort.

Jade Sullivan, Neighbor – “There are still so many people who don’t have jobs, who don’t have homes, who have lost everything….”

Jade Sullivan is loading her trailer for an important trip that will help Taylor County on Helene’s road to recovery.

Sullivan – “Upon arriving, I decided one trip wasn’t enough.”

We first introduced you to this Wakulla County resident as she spread the word about Saturday’s Donation Drive.

After visiting disaster-ravaged areas like Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach, Sullivan says rallying her community to help was practically a natural instinct.

Several neighbors came to drop off items, such as cleaning supplies, non-perishable food and baby items. Others saved cash donations, like Robert Romahn.

Robert Romahn, neighbor – “They haven’t been wiped out by any government, by anything, except a natural disaster. They have nothing.”

He says he can’t imagine what it would have been like if his city had been wiped out to that extent.

Romahn – “But they still have hope, that’s the most important thing. So if we can give them more hope, that’s great.”

And a little further away from Crawfordville, but still looking to contribute, were neighbors in Sopchoppy.

Robert Pilkington, Coast & Country Realty in Sopchoppy – “Now they have to choose between paying insurance deductibles or buying food for their children.”

Coast & Country Realty owner Robert Pilkington merged his Sopchoppy donation drive with Sullivan’s to try to make the biggest impact possible.

He says many in Wakulla County are putting aside their personal struggles for a greater purpose.

Pilkington – “We’re all going through tough times at the moment. Economically, things are very tough and we’re all being stretched to the limit, but imagine being stretched like that and then losing everything you’ve got.”

Empathy and relief that they hope will extend beyond the distance between the two provinces.

Sullivan – “And that’s what made me want to start helping Taylor County because it could have been us and I like to think if it had been us, Taylor County would have been there for us.”

If you missed Saturday’s collection, you still have time to play a role in this action. Sullivan will be collecting donations again on Friday, November 8 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM outside the Tractor Supply on Crawfordville Hwy.

In Crawfordville, Kenya Cardonne ABC 27