Several weeks ago flash flooding swamped Scott County. Now, food donations are continuing to pour in as victims rebuild their homes and their lives.
120 boxes of food from the River Valley Regional Food Bank was donated to the flood victims Monday (June 17). Items included canned goods, water and toiletry items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste.
"This is just the first stage," Ken Kupchick, with the River Valley Regional Food Bank, explained. "Recovery from something like this disaster will take a long time."
Brittany King and her family worked to separate and sort through the food before it will be handed out to the families who need it the most.
"I feel like I'm doing what I need to be doing," King said. "I enjoy going out there and seeing them and just how far they have come since the flood first affected them."
With more rain in the forecast over the next week, volunteers said they're stressed about more damage occurring.
"Several of them have been working very hard to rebuild their house," King said. "Any type of flooding will just damage everything that we've already done. And these families have already been through so much. I just, I don't want any more."
The rain did slow the volunteers down this morning, but they said they hope to have all of the boxes ready to go out first thing Tuesday (June 18) morning.
Scott County Judge James Forbes said volunteers will also be handing out water to families whose well water could be contaminated. Until test results come back from the state health department, the affected families have been told not to drink their water.
5NEWS is teaming up with Yeagers to provide supplies to help flood victims in Scott and LeFlore Counties rebuild damaged homes and businesses.
Starting Friday, June 14, monetary donations will be accepted at the following Yeagers Ace Hardware locations:
4910 Jenny Lind Road, Fort Smith
2619 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith
1610 Main Street, Van Buren
814 W. Center, Greenwood
Yeagers will take the money raised and buy supplies needed at cost.
To make tax-deductible donations online, visit : http://www.communitychurch.com/connect/local/disaster-relief