Distribution of Supplies and Support: Red Cross Helps Mullins Residents

Story by: Andrea Carlson, American Red Cross

Highway 76 in Mullins doesn’t normally experience a rush hour, especially at 2 p.m. on a weekday. But Tuesday, the community came out in droves to receive much-needed supplies from the American Red Cross.

Volunteers work to load bleach and water
into a Mullins resident's car.

“I think this is awesome, just awesome,” said Mullins resident Wodie Ellis. “The Red Cross is awesome. You are really helping. People are coming out and getting things they need.”

Eight box trucks filled the parking lot, packed with emergency supplies like shovels, rakes, cleaning supplies, food, water and snacks. Volunteers worked for several hours under the hot South Carolina sun, making sure everyone received the items they needed to begin recovering from Florence.

“I will be out to help as long as I need to,” said Lisa Baker, a Mullins resident. “We were spared by Florence, so as soon as we had the opportunity to come help with the Red Cross, we were here.”

A Red Cross volunteer looks at stacks of
newly delivered clean-up kits.

In just over an hour, more than 250 emergency clean-up kits were distributed to the community and hundreds more were ready to be handed out. The Red Cross distributed nearly 1,000 kits in just two days.

“It’s been a hard few weeks, and it still isn’t over yet,” said Red Cross volunteer Terry Davis. “We are still at risk for flooding and many people in our community are still under water. .’

Nelson Davis, a longtime resident of Gresham, was just one of the many who lost significantly in Hurricane Florence’s wrath.  The storm filled Nelson’s home with rain and debris. Members of his family were forced to evacuate to a Red Cross shelter.

“We got hit pretty hard,” Nelson said. “We had a lot of water and couldn’t get in or out. The men stayed at the house as long as we could and the ladies went to a shelter.”

He appreciated the effort from everyone who was there to help. Even the local high school football team came out to fill vehicles with those much-needed supplies.

A Red Cross volunteer hands supplies to
a member of the Mullins High School football team.

“This is a great effort from everybody. Some of us don’t even have water or food. So, to be able to come get those items today, it’s a big deal,” says Nelson.

Even as the hot sun bounces off the black parking lot pavement, dozens of volunteers worked around the clock to provide supplies to people, like Nelson. One of the youngest volunteers is 13-year-old, Lex Baker.

“I love this,” he said. “I am so happy that we are helping. Kids my age can do so much for their communities. I am even coming back out with my Boy Scout group to volunteer for the Red Cross.”

Several sites have been identified where emergency supplies will be distributed and handed out to people who need it most in the coming days and weeks. The goal of the Red Cross is to make sure people have the support and materials they need to pick up the pieces and start to rebuild after Hurricane Florence.