HOLLAND, Ohio — A former Toledo Public Schools student called back home for hurricane relief assistance, and his mentor Lisa Guthrie answered.
After Hurricane Helene struck the Southeast part of the U.S., Guthrie said she was surprised to get a call but ready to help. It was a student she mentored, Jordan Sanderson, now a cellphone tower worker in North Carolina.
"He said, 'Mrs. Guthrie, you're in Toledo and I know you can make this happen. We need help,'" Guthrie said. "He called me last week and said 'Mrs. Guthrie, you told me if I ever needed anything to call me.' And that's exactly what he did."
With the devastation from hurricane season, Sanderson said he had to call for help.
So, Guthrie said she wasted no time posting to Facebook and putting a box on her front porch, thinking only a few donations would come in to help out.
But, she said her neighbors, family and friends in the Holland area made the Amazon boxes just keep coming to her garage. The donations also filled up her husband's pickup truck. She said they're hoping to make more than a drop in the bucket, and want more.
"Basic hygiene supplies, baby supplies, cleaning supplies, trash bags, sponges," Guthrie said. "Anything that you can think of that a person might need to get their lives started again."
Guthrie said there are additional collection sites: at Springfield High School, the Toledo Public Schools Board of Education and DeVilbiss High School Building, Door 12.
Another site is her church, Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, where Senior Pastor, Rev. William Foster said he's always happy to roll up his sleeves and help.
"It's a blessing to be a blessing. So to be able to see beyond your own situation and circumstances," Foster said. "Though we're not there. The impact that you can make on the lives of people whose lives are kind of upside down right now, because of a natural disaster like the hurricanes, just do what you can. If you can. When you can."
He said he's proud of the Guthrie's for leading the charge of collecting donations because faith in your fellow man is key. The reverend said no one ever knows when it's their turn to need help from a stranger.
Guthrie agreed and said that overall, she's not surprised about the massive turnout of donations.
"Naturally, people want to connect and want to give back," Guthrie said.
She and her husband's personal goal is to fill up a 58-foot trailer two times over with supplies, she said.
Then once it's safe to travel south, they plan to make sure and give to those in need.