Lives were lost, and lives were changed in a matter of moments for thousands of folks in Putnam County (and Middle Tennessee).  One Campbell County woman is leading a drive to help the victims.
By Charlotte Underwood
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – A local supply drive for tornado victims in Putnam County is under way.

  The drive is being organized by Campbell County nurse Rebecca Barton, who lives in Jellico. Two drop off locations have been designated, Roane State Community College in LaFollette and Heritage Pizza in Jellico. Donations will be accepted until Fri, March 13. The next day on March 14, Barton said she plans to drive the supplies over to the Putnam County Community Center.
Barton said she was organizing the drive because her heart went “out to all those affected by the tornado, and she felt called to help.” She said over the years she had visited Putnam County for football games and had friends from the area and that it reminded her of home.
“They’re just like us, and they need the support right now. It could just as easily been us. It was just put on my heart to do something,” Barton said.  She called the mayor’s office in Putnam County and the community center to get a list of what is needed for donations.
Barton said she hopes to get enough donations to fill a U-Haul full of supplies.
The deadly EF-4 tornado had winds up to 175 miles per hour, which destroyed homes and businesses early Tuesday morning.
“There are people without homes, without places of work to go to, they’ve lost everything. Their lives literally stopped turning that night.”
Donations needed the most include:
Bottled water, hygiene items, diapers, baby food, dog food, tooth brushes, wet wipes, work gloves, large trash bags, cleaning supplies, non perishable food items, snacks, flashlights and batteries.
For more information or to help with the drive, call 606-261-5617. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 03/06/2020-6AM)

Related