TYLER, Texas — Over 130 people have died across six states, with millions still without power in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and multiple East Texas Organizations are working to help.
While East Texas largely has not been affected by the storm, Texans are doing their part to provide funds and supplies to those in need. Listed below are East Texans aiding in recovery.
J-Star Ministries
Patrick Johnson, founder of the East Texas nonprofit J-Star Ministries, received donations of food, water, cleaning supplies, and other items to take to Florida for residents affected by Hurricane Helene. He will head to Tennessee in the coming weeks to deliver more supplies.
Johnson left for Florida Monday to deliver supplies.
If you would like to donate, you can do so via Cash App is $424Sos or Venmo @Patrick-Johnson-472.
Love Mercy International
Out of Lindale, Love Mercy International is a non-profit organization sending a team to Asheville, North Carolina, Tuesday Oct. 1. The team is bringing supplies such as food, water, gasoline, and baby formula to the community that has been hit especially hard from the storm.
Local churches and relief organizations including Samaritans' Purse will join the team to help the residents.
Those looking to join the relief team can do so here.
TheGypsy
A Longview small business owner is pooling together supplies to deliver to Hurricane Helene victims in the Smokey Mountain region.
They are loading a truck full of water, non-perishable food items and baby supplies that they will drive themselves to the region. The truck will be loaded from 8 a.m. and stay open however long it takes to fill the truck on Oct. 2 in the Longview Mall parking lot.
There is a Venmo to donate money to @Laren84. More information on the effort can be found here.
LOCAL Car Wash
LOCAL Car Wash is partnering with the Green Acres Baptist Church to aid in Hurricane Helene relief.
From Oct. 6 to 12, the car wash at 7671 S. Broadway Ave. will be collecting items to send to those in need. The group is asking for hygiene products, water, and basic first-aid equipment for the victims of Hurricane Helene.
Thomas Oilfield Services
State Rep. Jay Dean, R-Longview, said donations to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene can be dropped off at the Thomas Oilfield Services yard, located at 4250 S.E. Loop 281 in Longview. Crews are loading donations into huge Thomas Oilfield Services trucks every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until the morning of Friday, Oct. 11.
Anyone who would like to donate items can drop them off at the location or contact Dean at 903-720-8460 to make arrangements for someone to come and pick up the donation.
Items, such as clothing, bedding, pillows and bath towels must be new.
East Texas Disaster Relief Convoy
Living for the Brand Church in Athens has partnered with the nonprofit A Cross My Heart to send necessary items to the victims of Hurricane Helene in and around North Carolina. Donations are being accepted from Oct. 7 to 9. The volunteers will be loading and leaving for North Carolina early Thursday morning.
Items can be dropped off between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Wednesday, Oct. 9 at the church, located at 902 Loop 7 in Athens. Requested items include bottled water, generators, extension cords, tarps, lighting, coffee machines, nonperishable food, baby food, formula, diapers, hygiene products, clothes for all ages, towels, blankets, sleeping bags, garbage bags and cleaning supplies.
Pine Tree ISD
All campuses are accepting new or slightly used toys to bring alongside a shipment of supplies heading to North Carolina from Longview. The school district said on Facebook it would be great to send items for the children as well. Students and stuff are being asked to bring toys by Thursday morning.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CBS19 is available live and on-demand on your favorite TV streaming device, anytime from anywhere in the U.S.
The free CBS19+ app for Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and smart TV devices features a 24/7 stream with the latest from CBS19.
In addition to the live stream, watch the latest from CBS19 on-demand, along with additional programming from our partners at TEGNA (like Verify, "Murder at My Door" and "In the News") and Locked On Sports, plus special collections from CBS19 like Under the Lights, Hooked on East Texas and CBS19 Originals.
DOWNLOAD ON ROKU
Add the free CBS19 channel by searching for CBS19 East Texas News in the Roku Channel Store on your device, or add the CBS19+ Roku channel using this link.
DOWNLOAD ON FIRE TV
Search for the free CBS19+ app in the Amazon App Store directly on your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, or add the CBS19+ Fire TV app using this link.
DOWNLOAD ON APPLE TV
Learn more about the free CBS19+ app in the Apple TV App Store and download directly from your Apple TV device.
DOWNLOAD ON YOUR SMART TV
The CBS19+ app is also now available directly on "smart" or "connected" televisions made by Samsung, LG and Philips, as well as televisions with Android TV. Search for CBS19 East Texas News in your television's app store to add CBS19+.
OTHER FREE WAYS TO WATCH
The CBS19+ 24/7 stream can be viewed on any desktop or mobile web browser anytime on the Watch page here on cbs19.tv.
You can also watch CBS19 News streaming live on the free CBS19 mobile app for your smartphone: