“It’s what we do. It’s in our culture,” explained Sarah Moss. “There’s no way we could sit back and not do anything.”
So Moss, a community relations officer for Regions Bank, joined colleagues from several departments to do what they could. Portions of Alabama and Georgia had just experienced a deadly tornado outbreak. While Regions is offering disaster-recovery financial services, and the nonprofit Regions Foundation is providing $100,000 in disaster-recovery grants, there was still more to be done.
“We’re here today to bring water, food and supplies to help with the cleanup,” Moss said, describing work under way at a donation drop-off site in Helena. The Birmingham suburb had taken a direct hit. The sound of chain saws filled the air Saturday as Regions Bank colleagues and people from across the area delivered supplies for storm survivors.
Parts of Helena, Pelham and other towns across Shelby County and beyond are almost unrecognizable. Still, a spirit of unity and determination is unmistakable.
Community members show up in force to clean up Old Town Helena, which took a direct hit from one of several tornados to impact Alabama March 25. Regions Delivered supplies for people in Helena and other Shelby County communities impacted by severe weather.
“I grew up about two miles down the road from here,” said Peter Huang from Regions’ Commercial Banking team. “I’ve been through this neighborhood a lot, and just seeing the destruction that was here today, it’s definitely heartbreaking. But it’s also encouraging because I saw tons of people out here today already helping each other, rebuilding the community.”
“We live in this community. We work in this community,” added Floresha Woodall from Regions’ Community Affairs team. “And we want to be here for the families that are in need.”