Firefighters are pictured above in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this week. (Photo by Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
Note: This story was last updated at 3:45 p.m.
There are a number of places you can drop off supplies to donate to the firefighters battling destructive blazes in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Here are several, with two in Oak Ridge, one in Clinton, and one in Roane County:
- Oak Ridge High School is a donation drop-off point for Gatlinburg Fire Relief. They are asking for water, Gatorade, power bars, individual snacks, wet wipes, toothbrush and paste, and dog and cat food.
- The Clinton Police Department is opening a collection point for bottled water, sports drinks, Gatorade, and similar sealed drinks. Please bring the drinks to the Clinton Police Department lobby at 125 West Broad Street. They will transport the drinks to Sevier County to be given to those in need (displaced residents, visitors, and first responders). Please donate only sealed drinks. No other items will be accepted.
- Oak Ridge volunteer Tom Giles, father of Oak Ridge firefighter T.J. Giles, will be collecting donations today (Tuesday, November 29) at High Places Community Church in Grove Center beginning at 1 p.m. If you have donations, you can drop them off there. In addition to water and sports drinks, crews are requesting eye drops, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, and snacks.
- The Roane County Sheriff’s Office will be collecting items today at the Roane County High School parking lot from 1-4 p.m. It’s to support the effort to fight the wildfires in Sevier County, help neighbors who have been affected, and especially support firefighters who are actively involved in the effort. Roane County has firefighters from its cities who left yesterday afternoon and have worked through the night to save structures and evacuate residents.
The East Tennessee chapter of the American Red Cross is accepting donations to help those affected by the fires: https://www.facebook.com/redcrosseasttennessee/.
Authorities have emphasized that they do not want people delivering supplies to the area of the fires because, among other considerations, they are trying to keep traffic to a minimum to ensure the roads are clear for emergency vehicles.
See previous story on local fire departments helping with the Gatlinburg area fires here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Donated supplies are collected at Oliver Springs Police Department on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, for firefighters and others in the area of the Gatlinburg fires. (Photo by Oliver Springs Police Department)
Donated supplies are collected at Oliver Springs Police Department on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, for firefighters and others in the area of the Gatlinburg fires. (Photo by Oliver Springs Police Department)
Levi D. Smith says
I stopped by ORHS around 6pm to drop off Gatorade, but I couldn’t find the drop off place and the doors were locked. I’ll try again tomorrow.
johnhuotari says
Hi, Levi. I apologize, but I didn’t have the hours earlier. Here is what I have seen: Items can be dropped off in the attendance office at ORHS during school hours (7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.).
Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters said this morning (Thursday morning) that they’re asking people to hold donations of food, water, and clothing until they finalize a central storage location. It sounds like they’ve been overwhelmed with donated supplies. Waters said they could have a central location this afternoon (Thursday afternoon).
He gave two phone numbers for future donations:
(866) 586-4483
(865) 430-7384
Waters said they’ve had an enormous call volume, so it could be difficult to get through at times.
It’s my understanding that the Red Cross is still accepting monetary donations. To make a $10 donation by text, text the word REDCROSS to 90999. You can also donate by calling (865) 862-3519 or visiting http://www.redcross.org.
I hope that helps.
Thank you,
John