CYGNET, Ohio — In Cygnet, the community has been actively donating essential items to Benschoter Hay and Straw Farm for those affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The farm posted on Facebook and Instagram Tuesday, encouraging people to help. Those posts have been shared well over 600 times.
Alicia Limes lives in Bowling Green and stepped up to contribute to helping people in North Carolina.
"It gives me butterflies in my stomach. I love it. I'm so giddy today that I can go, can afford to go to the store. It's three of our family members all contributing to this and we're just so excited and so happy that we can do this," Limes said. "It's definitely a blessing to be able to do this for them."
Others like Rod Lucas of Rudolph said helping people in need is something he is committed to and it gives him a sense of pride.
"We're just glad to help," Lucas said. "The wife and I want to just keep on giving and stuff."
Kyle Benschoter with Benschoter Hay and Straw Farm said with the terrible amount of loss down in North Carolina, he felt compelled to help.
"If we can just help a little bit, take away some of those easy decisions for people. Because they're dealing with problems right now that we can't even imagine," Benschoter said. "How to clean up, how to recover and so if we can help just the slightest bit, that's what we want to do."
Benschoter said they have received 30 donations of different essential items, which include things like water, food, paper products, hygiene products and medical supplies.
"It's been absolutely amazing," Benschoter said. "I can't say enough about our neighbors in this area and beyond, it's just been great."
According to Benschoter Hay and Straw, the deadline to donate items to their farm in Cygnet is noon on Thursday. All of the donated items will be delivered to Hendersonville, North Carolina on Thursday at 1 p.m.