In the wake of the devastating Hurricane Helene that has claimed more than 100 lives across the southeast and left hundreds missing, United Motorcoach Association Members Bailey Coach and Georgia Coach Lines are mobilizing to provide immediate relief.
John Bailey, chairman of the Spring Grove, Pennsylvania-based transportation company, has launched a supply drive to send urgently needed items to North Carolina, one of the hardest-hit areas.
“The last time we did this, we filled four buses with donations in just two hours,” Bailey said of the response to Hurricane Harvey in southeast Texas in 2019. “We’re asking the community to come together again to help those who have lost everything.”
Beginning tomorrow at 7 a.m., Bailey Coach will accept donations of diapers/wipes, new clothing (must have tags), feminine hygiene products and toothbrushes/toothpaste. The bus, once filled, will head to a regional distribution center organized by the United Way, which will ensure the supplies reach those in need.
Another effort in Georgia
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Clarence Cox, owner of Georgia Coach Lines, has activated his “Convoy of Care” initiative to aid survivors. Cox, whose Atlanta-area company has been providing disaster relief for nearly a decade, is preparing for a Thursday morning delivery to Valdosta, Georgia, after collecting donations from corporate sponsors and the public.
“We’ve been doing this for 10 years now, partnering with law enforcement, nonprofits, and other organizations to get supplies to disaster zones,” Cox said. “The major partnerships we have with groups like The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Georgia Sheriff’s Association and Trucking Associations and include Caring For Others are critical to our success.”
The “Convoy of Care” was founded in the aftermath of civil unrest as a way to bring communities and law enforcement closer together. Its first mission delivered 14 tractor-trailers of supplies to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during a major flood, escorted by Georgia State Patrol and other state police.
Both Bailey and Cox are urging other companies to join the effort.
“If every operator could send just one bus filled with supplies, it would make a huge impact,” Bailey said.
Bailey Coach and Georgia Coach Lines are accepting donations from their communities and working with local agencies such as the United Way to ensure the supplies reach those most affected by the hurricane.
For more information or to donate, visit the Bailey Coach and Georgia Coach Lines websites or their social media pages.
