When Hurricane Helene struck areas of Georgia, the damage was widespread, leaving thousands without access to basic necessities. Recognizing the urgent need to help those impacted, Bloom leveraged its Donation Center as a hub for collecting and distributing supplies to families and children located in the Department of Family and Children Services Region 9. This underserved area has been a focus of Bloom’s efforts for the past several months as the organization works to provide foster children in the community with clothing and other essential resources.
“By opening up Bloom’s donation center to hurricane relief efforts, we were able to assist those in greatest need while continuing our support for foster children and families,” said Bloom’s CEO & President Becky Davenport. “Bloom knows how to mobilize and gather essential supplies quickly to support children in crisis. As the organization continues its vital work with foster families, it remains ready to step up and help others when unforeseen challenges may arise.”
Bloom was also able to utilize its transit truck to transport supplies to the Mount Olive Church in Wrightsville, Georgia. Although Bloom’s focus is traditionally supporting foster children and families, the organization realized it had the means to make an immediate difference for affected families and children in these communities. This effort was spearheaded by former Bloom board member Deena Seckinger and helped ensure items from the local Fayetteville and Peachtree City communities could get into the hands of those in Georgia who needed them most.
“While volunteering at Falcon Field Airport, I learned they would be ceasing all relief efforts, and I knew we needed a solution to keep supporting those families affected by Hurricane Helene,” said former Bloom Board Member Deena Seckinger. “I shared this with Bloom’s CEO, Becky Davenport, and she graciously offered to step in and help. I was grateful for Bloom’s support in providing both the space and the transit truck we needed to continue our mission.”
The local community responded with incredible generosity, donating thousands of non-perishable items, water, and other necessities. Volunteers collected and transported the donations. In total, four trips were made to the area, where an estimated 5,000 items were distributed to families affected by the storm.
Mount Olive Church expressed its gratitude for Bloom’s efforts. “The support from Bloom and its community has been nothing short of a blessing,” said Rev. Jimmy D. Wright. “These supplies have helped make a difference for many families trying to recover.”
Through its established network and resources, Bloom was able to extend its reach beyond its usual mission, addressing the urgent needs of a community during a time of crisis. This effort would not have been possible without the generosity and support of the Bloom community.
