Georgia high school students collect hurricane relief supplies for Longboat

Milton, Georgia wanted to make amends with Longboat after a hurricane with its namesake came ashore on the Key.

When Twin Shores resident Sharon Austin shared the disarray left on the island by the two recent hurricanes, her friend who lives in Sarasota, Julie Swanger looked for ways to assist. Her solution was to reach out to their hometown of Milton, which is a suburb of Atlanta, because she knew they would band together to help one of their own.

Students from their children's alma mater, Milton High School, organized a hurricane relief drive to donate emergency items for all Longboaters. Milton High School parent Jack Berube drove down on Oct. 22 and unloaded the supplies at Twin Shores Mobile Home Park. 

His trailer was packed with items such as toilet paper, diapers, cleaning supplies, bottled water, moving boxes, yard tools, batteries, canned food and clothes. 

Berube grew up visiting his grandparents at their house on Longboat Key. So, when Swanger contacted him to help, he didn't hesitate to organize the drive with the help of his daughter Reagan, who is on the Milton High School equestrian team. 

The Milton High School student council and flag football team also helped collect items. The art department at the school put the finishing touches by decorating and signing the trailer.

Berube plans to drive down again in the next week to drop off another trailer full of supplies. 

The Milton High School Hurricane Relief is open from 10 a.m. to noon and 5 to 7 p.m. every day until supplies run out at Twin Shores, 3740 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The supplies are available for all Longboaters to take if they need them. Austin will be there to help and answer any questions.