Ben Rodgers, Executive Director of County Officials Association of Tennessee (COAT) and Lori Long, Director of Marketing and Communications, presented checks and gift cards to Washington County officials Thursday, December 19 at the Historic Courthouse in Jonesborough. The funds were approved at the recent COAT Conference in Nashville.
“We don’t know the victims here, but you do and you will know how best to disperse this,” said Rodgers.
Rodgers and Long presented a $1,000 check from the Tennessee Trustees Association, $990 in gift cards and $90 cash collected from registers, county clerks and court clerks.
“What y’all have done to help these people - we are so grateful,” said Mayor Joe Grandy who mentioned that the storm was just 12 weeks ago. Grandy provided a brief overview of Hurricane Helene’s devastation including the “loss of loved ones and everything they own, sometimes even the land was washed away with the storm.” Grandy said 119 homes were lost and 473 lost vehicles were found in the flood area but, “The community is very resilient. We appreciate others bringing resources and hope to hundreds of people in the river valley,” he said. “Just this morning ASP and local builders dedicated 10 homes to move in.”
Grandy suggested the funds be allocated to the Long-Term Recovery Group which interfaces with the people in need, is not governmental, and is citizen driven.
Trustee Rick Storey said Trustees approved $8,000 total that will be distributed in the eight counties of Northeast Tenn. “We sincerely appreciate everybody that has participated.” Storey went on to say that, “This may give someone linen or pots and pans…every donation counts and helps.”