Michigan Auto Repair Shop Owner Organizes Donation Drive for Hurricane Helene Victims
An auto shop owner from Michigan who experienced Hurricane Helene firsthand in North Carolina is now doing what he can to help his colleagues recover from the damage caused, reports Midland Daily News.
Elijah McMillan, owner of 2nd Mile Automotive Repair in Stanwood, Michigan, had been in Raleigh, North Carolina at an automotive training event, along with around 1,000 others in his industry.
It was during a class he was attending that he overheard talk about the storm, and realized how dire the situation had become, recounting shop owners he knew that had lost everything.
McMillan is no stranger to hurricane relief efforts, having been on the ground as a volunteer after Laura and Delta. Though he’s now unable to travel as easily as a business owner, McMillan had an idea for how he could help.
Monday through Friday, 2nd Mile Automotive Repair will be accepting donations of bottled water, non-perishable food items, charcoal, and personal hygiene products to deliver to those in need.
Merchant Automotive, owned by McMillan’s friend and business colleague Eric Merchant, will also be partnering with the initiative and also accepting donations at its location in Zeeland, Michigan.
The plan is to fill at least one entire trailer full of supplies to haul to North Carolina.
“I plan on personally making a run and picking up a decent amount of stuff so the shop can contribute to the load that goes down,” told McMillan. “These people have just lost their houses and everything. We think about what we’ve taken for granted.”
