Sussex steps up to help Louisiana flood victims

In about a month’s time, Milton resident Amy Kratz encouraged dozens of people throughout southern Delaware to step up and give back by donating a truckload of items to Louisiana flood victims.

On Oct. 6, truck driver Teyon Harmon, president of the new nonprofit East Coast Large Cars, arrived at Millman’s Appliances warehouse off Hudson Road in Milton, loaded up a 53-foot-long tractor-trailer and headed south to Baton Rouge, La., where torrential downpours in August displaced thousands of families and left at least 13 people dead, according to the Associated Press. Greater Beach Grove Baptist Church in Baton Rouge will distribute donated items to families in need.

Gary Chorman of Millman’s Appliances, who provided storage space for the donation drive, said he has been blown away by the generosity of his neighbors.

“This community can never be underestimated,” he said, as he admired box after box of nonperishable food items, blankets, pet food and pallets of bottled water. Chorman estimated that at least 35 large boxes were filled with 300 to 400 pounds of donations each.

“We’ve seen literally every socioeconomic community group come out,” Chorman said. “People have done a really amazing thing here.”