Mon Valley residents can help flood victims

Several local efforts are underway to take needed supplies down south.

Local community organizations are working together to bring supplies to victims of Hurricane Helene in the southeastern United States.

President Joe Biden approved major disaster declarations for Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. Emergency declarations were issued for Tennessee, Alabama and Virginia.

Mon Valley residents can help out by donating to some local organizations that are offering help.

BSJ&P Transportation Inc., a small family trucking company in Perryopolis, is preparing to take a trailer full of donations to Newport, Tenn. The company will begin accepting donations at 5 a.m. today at Katie’s Cookie Jar on 3249 Pittsburgh St. in Perryopolis.

The company said in a Facebook post that it will get another trailer to take more supplies if the first one is filled up. Anyone who has items that need to be picked up can contact Harold Rice at 724-953-5491 or Rachelle Rice at 724-858-6113.

Some of the items they accept are non-perishable food, bottled and jugged water, baby supplies, pet food and supplies, shower and hygiene products, paper plates and bowls, feminine products and more.

The Roscoe American Legion is collecting donations for Tennessee and North Carolina. A truck and a trailer will be leaving Saturday afternoon from its location at 520 Furlong Ave. in Roscoe on Saturday. They are accepting donations at their location after 1 p.m. each day.

The Charleroi American Legion is also accepting cases of water and blankets at its location at 234 Fallowfield Ave. every day after 2 p.m.

Hoods Up Quick Lube in Belle Vernon will accept donations for the Roscoe American Legion. They can be dropped off at 1640 Broad Ave. in Belle Vernon until 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Roscoe American Legion and Hoods Up will accept items like bottled water, water gallon jugs, Powerade/ Gatorade, clothes of all sizes, baby products like formula and more, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes and more. A full list is on the Roscoe American Legion Facebook page.

Other ways to donate and help

Another way to help is by giving monetary donations to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army that go directly to impacted hurricane victims.

Anyone wanting to donate should go to www.redcross. org/donate/donation.html. An option will be provided to only donate for people affected by Hurricane Helene.

The Salvation Army is also accepting monetary donations at its website, www.salvationarmyusa. org/usn.

Donations can also be made to the Florida Disaster Fund and North Carolina Disaster Fund, which distribute donations to organizations that directly help affected areas. To make a donation, go to:

• Florida fund — www.volunteerflorida. org/donatefdf.

• North Carolina fund — pay.payitgov.com/ncdonations.