BLANCHESTER — A Blanchester native is leading a local drive for supplies for flood-ravaged North Carolina, where she moved recently after graduating from Wilmington College.
Sidney DuBois, along with her sister Abigail DuBois, 17, and Sidney’s boyfriend Kenny Nelson, are trying to get the word out that supplies are needed.
“Abby and I have always been raised to help others when we can and when we see the chance,” Sidney said. “We originally began trying to gather items (for Hurricane Florence relief) unsure whether or not our house was OK, flooded, or if we would go home to nothing. Honestly, that was fine with us, because one way or another we would be OK.
“We could not just sit here and focus on the negativity of the situation. Therefore, our coping mechanism was to just help. This process was very slow to start with. At first group after group told us they couldn’t help because we were not a ‘named organization’,” she said. “Abby and I had almost given up.
“Eventually, we started trying to make contacts where we could, and several groups, small businesses and people came out of the woodwork to help us. Finally, we began getting somewhere.”
Sidney said that the situation in North Carolina “is still not good. There are many people who cannot go home. The water is still rising and there are many houses still under water.
“People such as Kenny have lost everything, and will have to start all over. People have lost their loved ones, their pets, and their belongings.”
She said their drop-off point for supplies is Mockabee Motors at 104 Cherry St. in Blanchester — but the group plans to take the supplies to North Carolina early next week, so supplies are needed quickly.
“They are taking goods for us to pick up even in their off hours,” Sidney said. “Needs include canned goods, hygiene products, baby supplies, water, and other clean, gently used supplies.“
