CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) A semi loaded with supplies bound for East Tennessee to help families affected by wildfires is set to leave Clarksville Friday. Volunteers spent much of the morning loading donated items and will be picking up donations throughout the day.
Organizer of the relief effort, Chris Ireland, said he posted a call for donations on Facebook and it exploded. He said support from volunteers, individuals and local businesses has been tremendous.
Ireland is a firefighter with Clarksville Fire Rescue and many of the volunteers helping with the effort are also firefighters.
Ireland said their original plan was to take a large trailer full of supplies until Jones Brothers Towing and Trucking stepped up and said they would help out with a semi and a driver to transport the supplies.
Supplies going on the truck included food, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, pet food, water and clothing. Ireland has been working with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). A member of TEMA is set to meet the truck in Pigeon Forge to take care of the distribution of the supplies.