Hilton church will hold donations drive Saturday for hurricane relief in North Carolina

HITLON, N.Y. — The St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Hilton is holding a donations drive to collect food, toiletries, and other items to send to Western North Carolina as it works to recover from Hurricane Helene.

The donations drive runs from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the church parking lot. A family from St. Paul School will drive the donations to their hard-hit hometown of Asheville, North Carolina and help with relief efforts being conducted by Samaritan’s Purse.

The church says these are the most needed food and drink items:

• Sealed and unopened water
• Canned veggies (preferably with pop-top lids)
• Plastic jars of peanut butter and jams
• Crackers (sealed boxes/containers)
• Chicken, tuna, or salmon (in pouches or pop-top cans)
• Ravioli and other ready-to-heat meals (in pop-top cans)
• Dried or canned fruit (sealed containers/bags or pop-top cans)
• Granola or protein bars (boxes with individually-wrapped contents)
• Sealed cans/jars of baby and toddler food (also individual serving pouches)
• Sealed cans of baby and toddler formula
• Sealed containers of Liquid IV or similar hydration multipliers (variety of flavors, including all sugar free varieties)

These are the most needed toiletries which must be sealed and unopened:

• Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
• Travel size shampoo
• Bars of soap (individually wrapped or in unopened/sealed container)
• Travel size bodywash
• Washcloths (new and unused)
• Hand sanitizer (sealed/unopened bottles of all sizes)
• Hand soap (sealed/unopened bottles of all sizes)
• Baby shampoo/wash (sealed/unopened bottles of all sizes)
• Diapers of all sizes (in unopened boxes/bags, for babies/toddlers and adults)
• Baby wipes
• Bath towels (new and unused)
• Feminine hygiene products (wrapped and in unopened packages)
• Toilet paper (wrapped and in packages)

These are the most needed cleaning supplies:

• Paper towels (wrapped and in packages)
• Reusable cleaning cloths (new and unused)
• Bleach/cleansers (unopened spray bottles/wipes in unopened containers)
• Sponges
• Dish gloves
• Contractor size trash bags, Work gloves
• Medical/First Aid Supplies
• Disposable latex/plastic gloves (all sizes, in unopened boxes)
• Bandaids all sizes (sealed boxes)
• Boxes/rolls of gauze (sealed containers)
• Rolls of medical tape (sealed packages)
• Water purification tablets (sealed containers)
• Other Essentials – FlashlightsBatteries
• Blankets (all sizes, gently used and cleaned, or new)
• Baby clothes (all sizes- gently used and cleaned, or new)
• Socks (new, all sizes from baby through adult)
• Tents, Sleeping bags