I have lots of things to say about yesterday. I plan to open a blog today to get it all out of me, & will share the link as soon as I have it.

For now, it will have to be enough for me to say that the outpouring of generosity from ALL OVER AMERICA is something special. I moved chicken cages with a local friend, Donna Parton, a teenager from Georgia, & two guys from Knoxville. One of them had a broken arm but he was still helping.

I moved hay that was donated by a man from Jamestown with one of my old co-workers. His wife has manned the fairgrounds tirelessly since the county made the decision to open it to displaced animals.

Thank you David Majors for answering my tears & pleading with a MUCH NEEDED fork machine. And Gary was a welcome sight.

Thank you Co-op. It’s good to know people in the right places. Thank you Leanne Anke for taking the evacuated horses back to their home on your day off.

Thanks to the businesses who are donating their people, their products, & their dollars towards this catastrophic incident. Food City had sent a tractor trailer full yesterday, Borden Dairy another, & I didn’t catch the names of several others in & out.

I spoke with a gentleman at the Rescue Squad that Lisega (the new factory on Dumplin Valley Road in Kodak) had sent on their dime to work. Lots of local restaurants are keeping these volunteers fed. And fed well–I saw Krispy Kreme boxes but somehow missed their contents. Cyndie and Kay I hope you can stay sane. If not, we can go decompress again. I’m always game for that.

I swept floors & moved tables & sorted supplies with people whom I was too busy to get their stories. We laughed & we cried & we worked.

I directed volunteers & people with donations & loaded a truck for a pregnant girl who had been sent to get dog food from a hotel with guests that had been through hell with their pets. I teared up again & again as people who didn’t look like they had a dime handed over bags of supplies & the occasional envelope.

I reunited with old customers of mine who were there to lend a hand.

We were all there to help & our hearts were of one purpose. It was good to be together & safe.

Show up somewhere today if you can. I don’t know what you’ll be doing, but it will change your life & your heart, I will promise you that.

~Sevier County Fairgrounds, 752 Old Knoxville Highway Sevierville

~Sevier County Rescue Squad, 1171 Dolly Parton Parkway, Sevierville

~old Boyds Bears location, 149 Cates Lane, Pigeon Forge

~The Barker Lounge/ Pets Without Parents might also appreciate volunteers.

~New Hope on 66, (2450 Winfield Dunn Parkway, Kodak) needs help sorting & delivering to Boyds Bears. They are not a part of the Red Cross effort & all supplies are staying in the county.

~Leconte Landing (where the news has been stationed, Teaster Lane) is being run by Red Cross I do believe.

Postscript: I laugh as I think of a comment I heard yesterday: “I guess the red cross knows where to have their next disaster.” 

Yeah. It’s like that. And a lady I met with the Humane Society opened up to me a little & said she had a family member in another state that was willing to house horses. Of course I thanked her & ticked off five or six of my personal friends in the county who had already offered. She kinda cocked her head & smiled a little & said, “That’s right. Y’all take care of your own, don’t you?” 

I stood a little prouder & smiled. 

#smokiesstrong #proudtobeatennesseevolunteer