DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) – While Hurricane Helene is a memory many try to forget, evidence of the storm’s impact is still scattered throughout some communities in South Georgia.

Hundreds of neighbors in Coffee County are still without power.

Right now, if you drive through Coffee County neighborhoods, you can see that holes in houses are now covered with blue tarps and piles of cut trees lining the road. Society still has a long way to go.

“The damage was horrific, there are no… words to describe the damage and devastation we saw in our community,” said Amy Rogers, a volunteer and local pastor.

This devastation does not stop people from putting their boots on the ground. Local church leaders are partnering to support anyone in need through an organization called Hope for Coffee County.

Michael Newton, president of the Coffee County Hope Initiative, said they searched about 29 percent of the homes and found 300 people were still in the dark.

“We haven’t had many things because we know we can’t communicate, but what we do know is that God is,” Newton said. “And as long as we use the initiative of hope and what God is doing with us today, it spans the entire spectrum. No matter what race, what color, what size; “It’s just about us working together as a community.”

The organization plans to obtain funding from sources in Kentucky to help rebuild homes after completing the assessments.

“Love and kindness attract people. So I want to make sure we know we need to treat our neighbors with love and kindness,” said Coffee County Hope Initiative Manager Mickeayla Clark.

The Hope Initiative will host a community meeting at Coffee High School on November 2nd at noon. Many issues will be discussed, including the creation of a long-term rescue team.

The organization is also asking anyone who still needs help to fill out digital forms. The deadline to fill out the forms is November 1. Here To access the evaluation form

The organization also helps neighbors in Nichols and Ambrose. Evaluation forms can be dropped off at the following locations:

• Ambrose City Hall, 196 Elm St. West
• Nicholls City Hall, 707 Van Street Highway
• Douglas City Hall, 320 South Madison Avenue

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