Bobby Herndon collecting donations for Mississippi tornado survivors
By WVUA 23 News Student Reporter Chaney Scott
Brothers Bobby and Scott Herndon are collecting relief items to be taken to tornado victims in Mississippi.
“If you lost everything you had, what could you use?” asked Scott Herndon, who is helping his brother coordinate a relief drive for Amory, Mississippi after tornadoes on Friday night killed more than twenty people and left many more injured.
The brothers aim to help others like those who helped them after the 2011 tornado.
“Thinking back to 2011, help came from all over. People wanted to help in any way they could. This is a way to not only pay it back, but pay it forward. And God has given us this opportunity to do it,” said Scott Herndon.
Over the next week, a rental truck will be parked at Herndon, Hicks & Associates at 2728 Lurleen Wallace Blvd. in Northport for people to drop off donations. They are gathering:
- water
- canned or boxed food
- cleaning supplies
- feminine hygiene products
- pet food
- paper towels
- contractor grade trash bags
- gloves
- toilet paper
- basic hygiene items
- toiletries
- can-openers
- blankets
- collecting monetary donations to buy more goods.
Scott Herndon says water is what is needed the most right now. They are collecting “anything that can be donated with the exception of used clothes, which may come at a later time,” said Herndon. People can leave a check at the office to donate as well.
For the past several years, Bobby Herndon has spearheaded efforts to gather supplies for people in need after natural disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods. Now his brother says they hope these donations will provide people with encouragement.
If they collect enough donations, they will drive to Amory early in the week and make multiple trips after that.
Herndon believes the local community is innately compassionate, with a history of banding together to support other Americans after a crisis.
“Thank you to the people of Northport and Tuscaloosa who have always been so generous and gracious to supply needs such as this whether it’s been Louisiana or South Alabama or Kentucky after the flooding,” Herndon said. “This community is awesome.”
