LONGVIEW, Texas — The Slaton family calls their mission #OperationSmokeyMountain. Their truck is filled with canned food, water, pet food, personal items and donations from businesses and East Texans.
It's all headed to Tennessee and North Carolina to help people affected by Hurricane Helene. The project started from a vision Laren Slaton had.
"I was scrolling through TikTok crying about all the devastation that they’re going through," Laren Slaton said.
Lost homes, farms, cars and more are the among the damage left by the impact of Hurricane Helene. But in East Texas, help is on the move.
"You want to cry, and it breaks your heart, and I told my husband I said, 'I’m going to do something for these people.' And he’s like what can you do, and I was like, 'I don’t know but I’m going to do something,'" Slaton said.
That something turned into something the Slaton family never imagined. They rented a box truck, and from there, support from businesses like Ekon Bath, United Cajun Navy, Dutch Bros, Target, Horaney's and a donation from Patterson Nissan and more in Longview came in quickly.
"We’d love to go ourselves but I’m glad that someone younger can take it and do the work," Julie Ferris said.
People of the community saw this opportunity, stepped in, and are giving back to those who need it the most. The Slaton family had their doubts on filling the truck, but with the community support, it all came together.
"I mean it’s almost full, and we’re still taking more in my car and the truck that Nissan is loaning to us. It’s just really amazing," Fancy Slaton said.
The Slaton family’s journey starts in East Tennessee and then heads to Asheville, North Carolina, which are two areas Hurricane Helene impacted the most. The hope is to reach as many families as possible to be the rainbow after the storm.
"If my life means that I was helping someone else’s life be better, then it’s worth it," Laren Slaton said.