Alabama Volunteers Drive Supplies to Ice-Ravaged Mississippi

When Oxford, Mississippi rescue workers called Jim Dennis on Sunday asking for help, the Childersburg Rescue Squad captain didn't hesitate to answer.

His all-volunteer team in Alabama immediately started collecting donations for communities still struggling weeks after January's ice storm knocked out power across the region. The squad plans to deliver everything they've gathered this Saturday, and Dennis hopes to fill an 18-wheeler.

"They're starting to run out of supplies, and they've got a long way to go, and so we're trying to help ease that burden as much as we can," Dennis said. The biggest needs include canned food, bottled propane tanks, manual can openers, bottled water, and blankets.

The power outage has created cascading problems beyond just keeping the lights on. Gas stations can't pump fuel without electricity, and grocery stores remain closed, essentially collapsing the local infrastructure.

Dennis expects these communities will need ongoing support for another four to six weeks. "Individuals and churches and all of us pulling together, we can help Oxford get through this," he said.

The Childersburg Rescue Squad building has become a hub for donations from Monday through Friday evenings. Squad members are taking time off work without pay to coordinate the relief effort.

The Ripple Effect

This spirit of service runs deep in the small Alabama town. After Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Tennessee, the same volunteer squad collected enough donations to provide 6,000 children with a Christmas experience.

Dennis credits the generosity to his community's character. "Our community is known for helping," he said. "They're very good people, and it is an honor to be able to serve them."

The rescue squad operates entirely on volunteer power, with no one receiving payment for their time or effort. Some members are sacrificing wages to participate, but that hasn't slowed their commitment to helping neighbors in need.

Donations can be dropped off at 118 Sixth Avenue SW in Childersburg from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. through Friday.

Dennis remains confident his community will show up for Oxford the same way they've shown up for disaster-stricken areas before.