A little bit of relief goes a long way.
Spearheaded by a grassroots effort online, community came together to donate items at the Hampton-Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Department on Tuesday to help firefighters that left to help combat flames in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
As donated items poured in, Elizabethton/Carter County Emergency Management Agency Director Gary Smith, along with volunteers and members of the fire department helped load items that would be transported to the local firefighters stationed at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School.
“I believe this started on Facebook … it shows that social media can do some good,” Smith said with a laugh before departing. I stopped by and talked with the folks from the fire department earlier. They had already collected all this material but just didn’t have a method to get it down there. Fortunately, we have the trailer available to haul the material in to take it down there.”
Just from the kindness of individuals calling in to posts on Facebook, the department was able to come up with a trailer full of items, including bottled water and snacks.”
In tragic times, the state always seems to rally together, Smith said. Along with firefighters from the county, other departments across the state have lent a hand to help the citizens of Sevier County, only adding to Tennessee being famously dubbed as the “Volunteer State”.
“That says it all,” Smith said. “People come together in bad times to help each other out. That’s what it is all about.”