RIVERSIDE

Champion Metal Supply and KDM Trucking are once again packing the semis with supplies to truck down to North Carolina to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. Bring your donations to Champion Metal Supply, 2527 Hwy 22, Riverside on Friday, Dec. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All donations must be new in packaging. Areas of need include tools (gloves, tents, batteries, and handwarmers, for example), health and beauty (toothpaste and brushes, deodorant, shampoo, razors), baby (wipes, diapers, formula, bottles), cleaning supplies (window cleaner, dish soap, laundry detergent, bleach), household supplies (toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, tape), food items (granola or protein bars, peanut butter, jelly, canned soup, crackers), kitchen essentials (silverware, pots and pans, coffee pots, toasters), and pet food (wet and dry).

Christmas items are also needed. Bring toys for all ages, gifts for parents, stockings and stocking stuffers, as well as giftwrapping supplies such as wrapping paper, ribbon, bows, scissors, and tape.

Monetary donations are welcomed to help cover shipping costs. Should more funds be received than needed, they will go toward the purchase of larger items, such as generators, chainsaws, and pallets of supplies that will go to hurricane victims.

If you can’t make the Fill the Truck event this weekend, the Kalona Public Library and PSC Distribution in Iowa City are also drop off sites, and items can also be purchased on Amazon and shipped directly to the event organizers. For more information, visit KalonaDisasterRelief.org/fill-the-truck-event.

This is the second supply drive to be conducted by the organizers; the first was in October in partnership with Cornerstone Community Church in Kalona. Two trucks delivered supplies to Aerial Recovery in Asheville, North Carolina.