West Virginia is hurting; here’s how you can help

The flood hit without warning.

It was the fall of 1985, and Valerie Althoff, a Lady’s Island resident who grew up in Greenbrier County, W.Va., watched the water rise around her great aunt’s house and the National Guard pour into the area to rescue folks.

“The main river — the Greenbrier River — really didn’t flood,” she said. “It was the creeks that breached their banks and created water in places it’s never been.”

Still, she considers herself lucky. Lewisburg, her hometown, was higher up than some of the hard-hit areas. Others in the Greenbrier Valley were at lower elevation, and Althoff saw the flooding touch her family, friends and neighbors.

Now, floods are again ravaging southwestern West Virginia, leaving at least 26 people dead.

This time, Althoff is doing more than watching.

She and husband, Jeff, are heading to West Virginia on Friday to bring food and supplies to the Greenbrier Valley area.

“I hate sitting here feeling helpless when so many people there are suffering,” Valerie Althoff said. “All I am hearing from my friends in the area is that they need volunteers to help. If anyone can spare some time to go help, it would be greatly appreciated, I know.”

The biggest need, Valerie Althoff said, is “boots on the ground.”

The Althoffs will provide four of them.

But they plan to bring more than that.

They are collecting nonperishable food items, tools, cleaning supplies, shovels and all manner of toiletries to bring to West Virginia. The Greenbrier Valley Flood Recovery and Relief Facebook community page has an updated list of needed supplies.

There are four drop-off spots organized by the Althoffs for donated items: Keith’s House of Plumbing; Lowcountry Insurance Services; Kazoobie Kazoos; and Praise Assembly of God Church.

More trips to West Virginia are in the works, so donations that come in after Friday will still make their way to those in need, the couple said.

To send supplies directly to the hurting parts of the state, there is an Amazon.com wish list called “Greenbrier Valley Flood Relief 2016” that lists specific items needed.

The United Way of Greenbrier Valley also is accepting donations.

“Growing up in Lewisburg and Greenbrier County was great for me,” Valerie Althoff said. “It is very similar to Beaufort, with the small town feel and everyone knows each other. My husband is shocked because I keep in touch with so many people that I have known practically all my life, but I think that is how we all are. Very close — family.”

This story was originally published June 30, 2016 at 3:58 PM with the headline "West Virginia is hurting; here’s how you can help."