Donations from Georgia Bring Warmth and Cheer to Appalachia
With the help of many generous donors, a former Wheeler County resident is helping to coordinate an effort to bring warmth, love, and Christmas cheer to the people of North Carolina and Tennessee who are still suffering from the devastation of September’s Hurricane Helene.
Christie Montford, who now lives near Cedar Crossing, is known to residents of Wheeler County because she grew up in the Shiloh Community on Georgia Highway 19. That is one reason she reached out to the congregation of Shiloh Methodist Church just across the highway from her former home where her parents still live. Her appeal was also broadcast from her Facebook page, reaching countless potential donors far and wide.
Montford is now District 7 Federation Manager for the Georgia Farm Bureau. Her territory includes 17 Southeast Georgia counties ranging from Burke County to McIntosh County, and as far west as Appling County.
Georgia Farm Bureau is the state’s largest and strongest volunteer agricultural organization. Montford’s role helps fulfill the mission of championing agricultural and rural communities. As part of her job, Montford recruits and inspires others, so working with volunteers comes naturally. Over the years, she has been actively volunteering in many organizations, including the Georgia Young Farmers and Ranchers, Georgia FFA Association, and National Wild Turkey Federation, all of which all have a strong heart for helping others.
Most recently, Montford has become concerned about the ongoing plight of the people of North Carolina and Tennessee who were so adversely impacted by the powerful storm that ravaged their communities. The loss of life was staggering, but also many residents lost their homes and belongings. In some cases, even the ground where these residents once lived was washed away in flooding brought about by the storm.
The hurricane which struck in late September caused at least $53 billion in damage in North Carolina, according to a state government estimate. More than 100 North Carolina residents died from the storm, which the state estimates damaged over 120,000 homes, at least 6,000 miles (9,700 kilometers) of roads, and over 160 sewer and water systems.
The projects Montford helped coordinate — there have been three of them so far — to provide relief and donations to the people of North Carolina were not done in conjunction with Montford’s role with the Farm Bureau, but because of her concern for fellow Americans who are in dire need. “This is something the Lord just laid on my heart to put the call out for and to be a vessel for His work. All of the people helping and donating to this are either private individuals or churches that have done toy drives or who have financially donated.”
The first effort was put into motion after a Carolina woman contacted Montford’s friends Jed and Brogan Adams, who live in Toombs County. “Brogan had a friend that lived on the mountain just outside of Burnsville (North Carolina), and she was able to get word down that they were physically OK but that there was a huge need for help with livestock feed and basic human necessities,” Montford recounted.
Montford and the Adamses went to work gathering medicine, livestock feed, canned goods, baby supplies, and basic necessities for the families of Burnsville and were able to make a delivery in October. The donations were taken up the mountain on pack mule teams and on ATVs that could get through to areas that were still inaccessible to vehicles. This first mission had a huge impact on Montford and her 14-year-old daughter, Kayleigh. They were determined to do more, and a second mission was planned.
“This has been weighing very heavy on my heart. Many families in North Carolina lost absolutely everything. As a Mama, I couldn’t imagine the heartbreak it would cause me to not be able to provide at least a small gift for my children or have Santa leave them any present at all for Christmas this year,” Montford said in her Facebook appeal for donations in the second mission.
While working on the second effort, a third effort was initiated through a called-in request for help from one of Montford’s contacts in North Carolina. She explained, “They (the Burnsville Nursing Group) have identified approximately 150 homebound senior citizens that are struggling at night in the extremely cold temperatures that they are experiencing. Risk of death from hypothermia is a very real fear as they have already lost a few (residents) in the community this week. They have been able to get most of these senior citizens a generator but now are trying to get electric blankets, thermal socks, and gloves for them.” Montford was aiming for 150 donations, but, “If we end up with more than 150, that would be an even bigger blessing,” she said.
The toys are going to an area right on the North Carolina/Tennessee line. “There is a small community park that sits close to three communities that we will distribute from. Those communities are Elk Park, North Carolina; Minneapolis, North Carolina; and Roan Mountain, Tennessee. The items for the elderly will be dropped off just outside of Burnsville to be distributed to the elderly in Mitchell County, North Carolina.
Montford said she luckily found a post of an individual trying to coordinate another toy drop in the area and reached out to her to see if this individual knew of an area that had not been helped yet. A guidance counselor from one of the schools in the area that the Montfords and Adamses are going to had seen their flyer and had called Monford asking for help for her students and community. “She passed her information along to me and we started having conversations about how many kids were in the schools she was working with, if they had a location we could stage to distribute from, and if she had personal contacts in the communities that we could at least make sure information would go directly to the families affected.” As of now, three guidance counselors/ administrators from three different schools are involved in making sure families are notified of the date and time for distributions.
Montford added, “As far as determining the items needed is concerned, we just prayed and put the call out for whatever people felt led to give and do. We’ve told people that we’ll be praying over the toys and supplies when we get there that the Lord will put them in the hands of those that need these donations most. We are literally walking blindly in faith on that part right now.”
Montford said that communities all over Georgia have reached out at this point and donated everything from a couple of toys to truck beds full of toys and supplies.
The Adamses are allowing Montford to use their enclosed trailer and have offered to pull it to the distribution sites and help Montford and her daughter to distribute them.
The trailer on which the donated items are being loaded will leave on December 22. The deadline for making contributions is December 18. To make a donation, please call 478-595-6558 or email Christie at cmontford707@ gmail.com. Georgia Farm Bureau Relief Fund The Georgia Farm Bureau is partnering with the Georgia Department of Agriculture and other ag organizations across the state to launch a relief fund specifically for farmers affected by Hurricane Helene. “Please consider making a donation. When crops are destroyed, we are all impacted. It is crucial that we support our farmers during these tough times to protect the future of our ag industry. Your contribution can make a significant difference in their recovery. Our agriculture industry is weathered. Let’s help keep it strong,” said a Farm Bureau spokesperson. Learn more here: www.Support-GeorgiaFarmers.org.
FIRST MISSION — Jed Adams unloads livestock feed that will go to storm-stricken areas in Appalachia. The first run provided mainly medicine, livestock feed, and food.
PACK TEAM — A rider guides pack mules loaded with supplies that were bound for communities where residents were in need. The mule trains and ATVs were able to navigate mountain trails to reach communities that are still inaccessible by vehicles.
