Spartanburg Rallies Together After Tropical Storm Helene: Community Clean-Up, Presidential Visit and Support Initiatives

City of Spartanburg: Recovery from Tropical Storm Helene and Upcoming Events

Spartanburg, you’ve been through a lot lately. Tropical Storm Helene showed no mercy, leading to downed trees, power outages, and sadly, even loss of life. Nevertheless, with that Spartan spirit and unity, everyone seems to be pulling together and helping each other out in these tough times. Here’s the latest scoop on what’s happening in the city.

Spartanburg County Administration Building Opens

Some positive news for a change – the County Administration Building on 366 N. Church St. opened up Thursday. Although parks and community centers will have to remain closed a little while longer due to recovery efforts, we’re definitely getting there, folks.

Clean-up This Saturday with Samantha Swann

If you’ve got some spare time this Saturday, Samantha Swann’s PAL: Play Advocate Live Well is hosting a Trail Cleanup. They’re focussing on the trails most affected by Hurricane Helene, specifically the Lower Drayton Trail and Three Creeks Trail. Wheelbarrows, shovels, pitchforks, rakes – any tools that can aid the clean-up are welcome. Not only is your help needed, but it’s also a great way to meet fellow Spartans and contribute to our community’s recovery.

Landrum Farmers Market Up and Running

Landrum Farmers Market is a breath of fresh air, literally. What better way to stock up on fresh produce right now? Supporting local farmers and producers during times like these definitely does wonders for the local economy. Hop over to 221 W. Rutherford Road on Thursdays and Saturdays. Get those shopping bags ready for some farm-fresh goodness!

A Presidential Visit Amidst Helene’s Fallout

Even amidst our recovery efforts, we had a distinguished visitor. President Joe Biden landed at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport in Greer this Wednesday. While here, he met with first responders and surveyed the damage ourselves. It’s great to see attention from the top bringing more focus to our situation down here.

Be Wary of Price Gouging

Unfortunately, some are taking advantage of the situation by price gouging. There are reports of some stores and gas stations charging hefty amounts for essential goods and services. But let’s not let a few bad apples tarnish the Spartan spirit. Remember, if you spot any such incidents, report them immediately to protect your community from unfair business practices.

Recycling Centers and Transit Updates in Spartanburg

With recovery firmly underway, four recycling centers have reopened in the county. It’s heartening to see even essential services like waste disposal quickly getting back to normal. However, do note that SPARTA Transit will not run on October 3 due to impassable roads. If you need transport, consider the County’s Dial-A-Ride program.

Volunteering Opportunities and Donation Drives

Many among us are eager to lend a hand and help our neighbors in any way we can. If you’re looking to volunteer, there are many opportunities. You can reach out to local volunteering organizations or even drop a line to our local news team, they’re maintaining a pretty up-to-date list of places you can help. Also, the United Way of Greenville County is accepting donations at their Edinburgh Court office. Let’s do everything we can to support our community!

Stay strong, Spartanburg! Together we can overcome anything. Let’s take it one step at a time, keep supporting each other, and soon we’ll see our strong, vibrant city sparkle once again. We’re Spartans, after all!