News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Overton County Emergency Management Agency accepting donations so the department can send building materials and Christmas gifts to East Tennessee to help areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Overton County EMA Director Chris Maisongale said the department will be mostly sending gifts and building materials to Greene County. Maisongale said they are sending building materials to help build houses for families who have lost their homes. Maisongale said the directors in Greene County have said the recovery in the area has been very slow.
“You know they are living in tents,” Maisongale said. “It’s 20-degree weather up there and they have already gotten snow. They’ve got some wood stoves and of course, they’ve got some gas stoves and what not and all that is very dangerous as well as uncomfortable living conditions.”
Maisongale said during conversations with Greene County Official Paige Noelton, it was mentioned that families needed Christmas presents. Maisongale said the gifts will not only go to Greene County but will also go to families in North Carolina.
“She is talking about over 100 families that they are trying to help,” Maisongale said. “She said I want to make sure with all this devastation that these children have at least some type of Christmas.”
Maisongale said the department is also asking for coats to send over as winter is approaching. Maisongale said the department is working with One Bank in Livingston to use monetary donations to purchase the building materials.
“We arrange through the bank to purchase those construction items with either a Lowes or a Home Depot that can deliver them up there to that area,” Maisongale said. “That agency will allow people that they have vetted to make sure that this stuff goes to the people that need it.”
Maisongale said alongside gifts and building materials they are also accepting donations of coats and nonperishable foods. Maisongale said they are still taking donations. Donation dropoff locations are the Overton 911 Center located at 255 Industrial Park Drive in Livingston and the Mountain Fire Department located at 108 Water Tank Road in Crawford.
