Employees from Southside Farm and Pet Supply filed out of the store May 24, carrying boxes overflowing with clothes, food and supplies. Sweat dripped down their foreheads, as they stuffed the incredible amount of donations into a borrowed trailer. The goods were for those in Oklahoma devastated by a monstrous EF5 tornado.
The day before, employees helped pull $7,000 in new jeans of all sizes from the store shelves. Southside owners Tim and Pam Lopez wanted to give to the cause, as well.
All week, the store’s electronic marquee blinked “Donate for Oklahoma here.”
The woman behind the project is Kole Hillman. With rodeo friends in Oklahoma, Hillman watched and learned about the destruction in Moore and the surrounding areas on the news. All the while, she was waiting for phone calls from loved ones and friends.
“It just really hit home,” Hillman said. “Being in the rodeo circuit, I thought I have to help these people.”
So, Hillman began asking businesses to become drop-off points for donations. She has collected at different locations throughout Tampa. One night, she set up her trailer in Channelside to collect donations. She went through three tanks of gas buzzing around Tampa Bay to collect.
Southside has stood out as the largest donation site. Hillman has come three times to pick up donations at the Plant City store and she said Southside’s donors have contributed 10 times as much as any other location.
“The whole front area was piled high with donations,” Pam Lopez said. “They blocked the door, so we had to buy boxes and pallets to take them outside.”
Employee Mylie Feaster watched the supplies pile up all week.
“It’s amazing to have such a small town that wants to make a big impact for people we don’t even know,” Feaster said.
Hillman herself climbed in a trailer last weekend to make the 22-hour trip Oklahoma. She spent $1,400 of her own money on gas to get there.
Hillman wasn’t alone in her journey. She put out a call to all her rodeo friends throughout the country through Facebook and phone calls. They also have been helping with donations, finding trailers and driving.
“These are our family,” Hillman said. “When one of the family members says we need help, we do it.”
Some of Hillman’s donations are going to her friend Mary Arbuckle’s charity in Oklahoma, Other Options Inc. Hillman would like to make another trip if she can get funding for gas. But for now, she is amazed at the extreme generosity of the community.
“I’m overwhelmed and humbled,” Hillman said. “It’s been a whirlwind. I’m in awe.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.