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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - More than 6,000 volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are helping areas affected by Hurricane Helene and Milton, including 300 volunteers in the Aiken and Augusta areas.
In their well-known yellow shirts and vests, volunteers have been clearing debris, mucked out homes, and brought hope to those impacted by the storm.
We spent some time with local getting an inside look at the hands bringing hope to the river region.
“When Hurricane Helene surprised us by the scope of the devastation here in the community, we immediately started to organize so we could take care of not only the of our congregation but our neighbors and the whole community,” says David Stewart, Augusta stake president of the church.
The volunteers are used to helping with disaster relief, but it’s different when it’s in your own backyard.
“Everyone in the CSRA has experienced some sort of damage to your home, damage to your property, or, you know, somebody that has experienced significant damage,” says Spencer Crunk, Latter-day Saints Ward Martinez bishop. “We’re out just to help everyone as much as we can. I can empathize with the way everyone is feeling. We had a tree come down on my house, and I benefited from a large group of volunteers coming to help me get that tree off of my house and clean up my yard. And we’re excited to get out and help out our friends and our neighbors in the community to get their properties cleaned up as well.”
The volunteers don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
“All of us have jobs and families and school to take care of, but in our free time, there’s plenty that can be done,” says Stewart. “I tell people, all you have to do is look to the left, look to the right, and chances are there’s going to be somebody that needs help.”
Limb by limb they’re helping pick up not only people’s yards, but the community too.
“People are coming out, helping other people, you know, because it’s very needed with all the damage and stuff, and like, realistically, nobody can really pay for all this,” says homeowner Cedric Jones. “Nobody got like, $3,000 laying around. So, you’re going to see people come together, helping out.”
Volunteers are spreading hope across the CSRA one house at a time.
It’s a common theme we’ve seen over the last two weeks and it’s something that hopefully continues beyond disaster cleanup.
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