Finding Solutions: Local group picks up the pieces from Helene
MARTINEZ, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - One local camp is left picking up the pieces after Helene caused so much damage.
Camp Tanglewood is owned by Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, located in Columbia County.
The damage has made the area almost unrecognizable and caused the camp to close down.
The organization is now finding solutions in ways to get up and running come next summer.
“It was as if a bomb had gone off. Some trees were completely uprooted, and some were snapped off halfway up. I think the most disturbing part of all was the destruction it did to a lot of the structures of it all,” said Jeff Wilson.
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Wilson is a part of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia.
He toured the camp three days after the storm to find buildings completely to the ground.
“These small structures around here are cabins and there’s roughly 25 of them on the property and probably 11 of them have either been crushed or parts that have been taken off,” said Wilson.
Camp Tanglewood is 184 acres. It has been around since 1942 off Columbia Road as a place for Girl Scouts from all over to explore the outdoors.
“The mission with Girl Scouts is to help young girls become better leaders and just help the world become a better place and to that end the camp is used by Girl Scouts, but it’s also used by a lot of other people and organizations throughout the year too,” said Wilson.
He says just like a lot of people, they are working to figure out the next steps.
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“We’re waiting to see what we can do with insurance and what portion we are going to be left to foot the bill with. I think most importantly what drives Girl Scouts is fundraising like any non-profit,” he said.
He says they held an annual fundraiser for the camp in September and now after the storm are hoping to get even more moving forward.
“Now after this storm, we’re going to have to be shut down for we don’t know, indefinitely. The goal is to be able to raise enough funds and get it cleaned up enough to be able to come back at the very least summer camp. We would love to see it sooner,” said Wilson.
The largest fundraiser for Girl Scouts is selling cookies.
Another way people at home can help is by staying tuned to their Camp Tanglewood Facebook page where they will be looking for volunteers to help clean up.
A date has not been shared just yet but is in the works.
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