'Flood the Bus' event successful

Helping those affected by rising water in Alexander County has taken on an additional challenge in recent weeks: maintaining supplies of water and hydration fluids for volunteers who are sandbagging in the area. 

On July 1, Medical Reserve Corps, MRC, coordinator for Southern Seven Health Department Bobi Cavins reported that due to the increased number of volunteers now sandbagging in the area, resources are being depleted faster than they can be restocked.  

To help meet the need while backup reserves were being sent, members of the Southern Seven’s MRC held a “Flood the Bus” event on Friday, July 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at Anna-Jonesboro National Bank’s facility in downtown Anna.

Organizers reported that more than 400 cases of water and sports drinks, along with various cleaning supplies and $120, were donated to the effort and taken directly to the sandbagging operation center located in the Spark Ministries Church in McClure.

In addition, Pepsi Mid-America in Marion donated 1,600 bottles of water.  Koerner Distributing has arranged a donation for delivery in the near future.   

Southern Seven Health Department reported that five MRC volunteers and 15 youth volunteers helped deliver the supplies to the sandbagging operation center in McClure and that more than 200 personal volunteers and National Guard members would be on hand to help over the  July 4th holiday weekend.

Since this is an ongoing effort, it is not known if additional “Flood the Bus” events will be held, but Southern Seven Health Department asks that anyone who is interested in volunteering to call 618-634-2297 for more information.