HAMPTON, Va. — Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is teaming up with a Virginia Beach-based humanitarian organization, Operation Blessing, to collect essential supplies for families impacted by recent hurricanes.
The goal is to gather enough items to pack up two Virginia Beach Wave Trolleys for hurricane victims in Hampton Roads. Both trolleys will be open for donations on Tuesday and Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The two Wave Trolleys will be parked at different locations in Hampton Roads. One is on Armistead Avenue and 18th Street in Norfolk and the other is at 3400 Victoria Boulevard in Hampton.
Thomas Becher with HRT said the organization has specifically requested items to help families in need.
"We've got diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene products, and infant formula,” said Becher, Communications Manager with Hampton Roads Transit. “Those are items that were requested for those in seven states recovering from the Hurricanes."
Donating is simple. People can stop by one of two trolleys and drop off goods. Every donation packed inside will go to a family recovering from recent hurricanes.
“We don’t have a goal per se, but we welcome all of those items,” Becher said. “A lot our employees are stepping up and will be coming by.”
After the two-day event ends, HRT will deliver the donations to Operation Blessing’s Warehouse.
“It goes right into their warehouse and no middleman,” said Becher. “We deliver right to the warehouse and they're going to do what they need to do to get it to those people in need."
This initiative is part of HRT Cares, a program dedicated to supporting employees and local organizations.
“We’re out in community every day,” said Becher. “We see what the needs are local regionally. We hear people talk about what issues and concerns they have. So, the more we can do proactively and physically to help, the better.”
About Operation Blessing
Based in Virginia Beach, Operation Blessing (OB) provides humanitarian services such as strategic disaster relief, medical aid, hunger relief, clean water, and community development. For more information on Operation Blessing, please visit www.ob.org.