Huber Heights pastor, son of Oregon District shooting victim collect donations for hurricane victims

SPRINGFIELD — The devastation caused by Hurricane Laura is personal for Aldersgate United Methodist Church Lead Pastor Rick Nance and Dion Green, survivor of the Memorial Day tornadoes and the Oregon District mass shooting.

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Pastor Nance told News Center 7 he grew up in the Lake Charles, Louisiana, area and still has family and friends there. When Hurricane Laura hit, Pastor Nance said he wanted to do something to give back to those whose lives were upended by the storm.

“When we have been blessed, we simply pass it on,” he said. “I think it’s the right thing to do because we’re connected as Americans and as a people.”

Pastor Nance joined forces with Green – founder of the Fudge Foundation, named after his late father Derrick Fudge who was killed in the Oregon District mass shooting – to start a donation drive for the areas most affected in Louisiana.

Green endured the EF-4 tornado on Memorial Day as well and extensive damage was done to his home.

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“I was in this situation last year... stressed out.. don’t know what the next move is,” he said. “Until people from around the country started coming in and helping.”

The two are asking for baby wipes, diapers, pet food, clothes, bottled water and other non-perishable food items to take to Lake Charles next month.

On the first trip there about a week and a half ago, they had collected so many items they could barely fit it all in a trailer. The devastation they encountered once there told them another trip was needed.

“We’re hoping this trip picks up a lot of steam and take an 18-wheeler this time,” Green said.

As everyone in the Dayton area knows, natural disasters are not isolated to one area of the country.

Pastor Nance said he hopes the community will step up and give what they can – especially with another tropical storm on the way.

Monetary donations can be made online at diongreen.com/fudge. Interested donors should put ‘hurricane relief’ in the donation line.

Donations can be dropped off at the Chef Shack, on South Yellow Springs Street in Springfield, Monday through Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. or on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Anyone in the Huber Heights area can bring donations at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Fridays from noon to 3 p.m. or on Saturdays.

Scheduled drop-offs can be made by calling the church office. Donations will be accepted into October.

Cox Media Group