In early October, the Greater Princeton & Far Beyond Branch of AYLUS (GPA) called its members to collect food and other items for donation to support the Hurricane Helene Relief.
Hurricane Helene was a devastating tropical cyclone that caused widespread destruction and fatalities across the Southeastern United States in late September 2024. It was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Big Bend region of Florida, the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Maria in 2017, and the deadliest to strike the mainland US since Katrina in 2005.
In advance of Helene’s expected landfall, states of emergency were declared in Florida and Georgia due to the significant impacts expected, including very high storm surge along the coast and hurricane-force gusts as far inland as Atlanta. Hurricane warnings also extended further inland due to Helene’s fast motion. The storm caused catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding, particularly in western North Carolina, East Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia, and spawned numerous tornadoes. Over 220 deaths have been attributed to the storm.
GPA volunteers collected donations of foods (non-perishable food items, canned veggies/ soups/ gravies, cereals/oatmeal, snack bars/ chips/ granola/ crackers, fruit cups, pasta/sauce/rice, ramen noodles/mac n cheese, condiments), and other items (drinking water, baby formula, diapers, batteries, trash bags, band aids, toothbrushes/toothpaste, washcloths/towels, socks, dog/cat food, disinfectant wipes, feminine products, wipes, winter clothes).
The collected donations are being transported by A-1 Limousine to the Southeastern United States for Hurricane Helene relief distribution.
GPA Volunteers (10/8, 5-8 pm): Erick Yan (2 hrs), Jennie Han (1 hr), Henderson Han (1 hr), Steven Li (1 hr), Richard Da (2 hrs), Zichen Ling (2 hrs), Kevin He (2 hrs), Jacob Li (1 hr), Kevin Li (1 hr), James Li (1 hr), Bethany Li (1 hr), Nathan Cui (2 hrs), Sophia Liu (1 hr), Gloria Wang (1 hr), Tiffany Tian (1 hr), Emma Lin (1 hr), Victor Yu (1 hr), Kristine Wang (1 hr)
