Miami Valley man collecting supplies, traveling to storm ravaged North Carolina

GREENE COUNTY — Volunteers here in the Miami Valley are doing what they can to help people in the Carolinas affected by Hurricane Helene.

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As reported Thursday on News Center 7 at 6:00, Don Fritts is collecting supplies to help

The death toll reached over 200 after the storm roared ashore last week in northwestern Florida as a strong Category 4 storm.

News Center 7′s Amber Jenkins said she has a personal connection to the Carolina mountains. She graduated from Western Carolina in 2022 and has college friends dealing with Helene’s aftermath.

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Hurricane Helene’s aftermath in North Carolina has been described as “Biblical Devastation.”

Jenkins received pictures from college friends in Western Carolina who experienced the destruction firsthand.

>>Photos: Hurricane Helene leaves parts of North Carolina under water

Many Ohioans are praying for the people in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Fritts told Jenkins he thought about moving to Western Carolina five years ago but settled here in Ohio to be close to his family.

“We’ve been there many times, almost moved there five years ago and moved to Florida before coming back here. But my connection is more with wanting to help those folks,” he said.

Fritts wants to help.

Through Samaritan’s Purse, a religious humanitarian aid organization, he will drive his truck full of supplies to Asheville, North Carolina, making those in need a top priority.

“I’m a member of their group and I’m going to go there and work with them for three days next week. But I thought, what a great opportunity to take a truckload of needed supplies, materials, and personal items as I go,” he said.

Don told Jenkins that he is collecting items at Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville at the 100 block of North Main Street until Sunday.

That is when he will start his journey south.

We will update this story.

Helene damage from Chopper 9 Skyzoom

Chopper Nine's views of Hurricane Helene aftermath

Chopper Nine Riverside Dr damage

Cowans Ford Dam after Hurricane Helene

Photos: Lake Lure, Chimney Rock devastated after Helene Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024

TRACKING: Flood waters continue to rise after Helene moved out

flooding along the Catawba River (WSOC)

Mountain Island Dam (WSOC)

Tropical Weather Crews work to clean up the tons of sand and debris pushed onto Gulf Boulevard from Hurricane Helene storm surge, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP) (Luis Santana/AP)

Tropical Weather The sun shines through a hole in a building after storm surge from Hurricane Helene sent tons of sand into homes, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP) (Luis Santana/AP)

Tropical Weather A home completely destroyed by fire due to Hurricane Helene is pictured on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP) (Luis Santana/AP)

Tropical Weather This aerial drone view shows damaged homes and a vehicle collapsed into water after storm surge from Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP) (Luis Santana/AP)

Tropical Weather A vehicle sits outside of its garage after storm surge from Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP) (Luis Santana/AP)

Tropical Weather A passerby checks the water depth of a flooded road, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. Torrential rain from Hurricane Helene left many area streets flooded. In addition, traffic lights are inoperable due to no power, with downed power lines and trees. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek) (Kathy Kmonicek/AP)

Tropical Weather An uprooted tree landed on a pickup truck in front of a home on East Main Street after Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Glen Alpine, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek) (Kathy Kmonicek/AP)

Tropical Weather A barrier blocks a flooded Carbon City Road due to the torrential rain from Hurricane Helene , Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 in downtown Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek) (Kathy Kmonicek/AP)

Tropical Weather The Riverside RV park was flooded from the overflowing Catawba River after torrential rain from Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek) (Kathy Kmonicek/AP)

Tropical Weather A stop sign can be barely seen above a flooded parking lot after torrential rain from Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek) (Kathy Kmonicek/AP)

Tropical Weather Daniel Dickert plants an American flag on his property were his boat shed was destroyed and his home damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Jena, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Tropical Weather Workers clean and gut a property that was flooded from the storm surge, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Steinhatchee, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Tropical Weather An aerial view of flood damage along the Pigeon River left by Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Newport, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (George Walker IV/AP)

Tropical Weather An aerial view of flood damage left by Hurricane Helene along the Nolichucky River, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Greene County, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (George Walker IV/AP)

Tropical Weather Residents discard items from their homes which filled with floodwaters from Hurricane Helene in the Shore Acres neighborhood on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson) (Mike Carlson/AP)

Tropical Weather An aerial view of flood-damaged Unicoi County Hospital in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Erwin, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (George Walker IV/AP)

Tropical Weather Pam Keen cleans up after their house took on water and piles of seaweed from the storm surge, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Steinhatchee, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Tropical Weather An aerial view of flood damage along the Pigeon River left by Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Newport, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (George Walker IV/AP)

Tropical Weather An aerial view a damaged bridge and flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene is seen along the Nolichucky River, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Greene County, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (George Walker IV/AP)

NewsChopper 2 flies over areas flooded from Helene This is the view from NewsChopper 2 on Saturday a day after Tropical Storm Helene caused significant flooding across metro Atlanta.

Tropical Weather Frankie Johnson, left, talks with fellow resident Charlene Huggins, whose home was destroyed, amid the destruction in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Tropical Weather Frankie Johnson, left, and her husband, Mark Johnson, talk with fellow resident Charlene Huggins, right, amid the destruction in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Tropical Weather An American flag flies over the destroyed city hall in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephen Smith) (Stephen Smith/AP)

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