CAIRO — More aid is getting sent to the state of Kentucky as Cairo residents collaborate to collect donations for those affected by last Friday night’s storm system.

A rental box truck parked outside the Advanced Auto Parts located on 340 8th Ave NE has become the donation site where people have been delivering essential items since Monday.

With help from the community, Cairo resident April Ansley is hoping to fill the entire truck up with donations and drive it to Kentucky just in time for Christmas. 

“This is just some love from Southwest Georgia,” she said. “We want to fill up the truck and hope it helps as many people as possible.” 

So far, boxes of gas jugs, personal items and non-perishable food items have been donated, but Ansley said there’s a more important need that Kentucky residents would benefit most from.

“They need heaters right now to stay warm. That’s one of their biggest needs right now,” she said, “whether it be buddy heaters that are run off propane or small electric heaters. There’re people there that are cold and they’re sleeping on the ground.”

Ansley is also looking for blanket and sleeping bag donations, which will be a big help in sustaining warmth during the current harsh conditions in the state.

“It’s 20 to 30 degrees colder up there than it is here and so you feel these elements. Imagine how they feel up there,” Ansley noted. “They don’t have a way to cut the light on because their house Is destroyed or half of it is blown away and those people need help, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Other donations being accepted include cleaning supplies, women’s hygiene products, baby products, rain gear, tarps, power strips and new wrapped children’s toys.

The only clothing items being accepted right now are jackets, skull caps, gloves, socks and underwear, which all must be in new condition.

Donations are being accepted every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Thursday night.

On Christmas Eve, Ansley and her family will travel to deliver the donations to the Cajun Navy Mobile Command Center in Mayfield, Kentucky.

For there to be a big enough impact on those in need over 10 hours away, Ansley said she’ll need more community help throughout the next few days.

“We need everybody’s help,” she said. “The people in Kentucky will appreciate that and that’s what it’s about is helping people in need. That’s how we get, by giving back.”