CRESTVIEW — It's been over a week since Hurricane Michael tore through the Florida Panhandle, and the community is making strides to recover from the devastation.
The Crestview Police Department is working to assist in the recovery.
After heaps of donations from community members flowed into the police department, Crestview officers loaded the supplies into a four vehicle convoy including a Public Works truck and headed to Marianna Thursday morning, per direction from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Public Information Officer Brian Hughes said he was amazed by the amount of supplies the community donated in a short period of time.
"People have been overwhelmingly responsive," Hughes said.
The police department received donations from the Ladies of Law Enforcement and other community members looking for an opportunity to get involved.
Jae Williams, 7, has been a huge help to the police department, Hughes said.
Williams received an honorary official uniform after loading the back of his mom's SUV with cases of water.
Riley Martin, 3, used money she raised from her lemonade stand over the weekend to help children of law enforcement officers affected by the storm.
"It has really been heartwarming to see this out-pour of generosity from the community," Hughes said. "We were not expecting this."
Hughes said donations have poured in from all ages, young to elderly.
One woman bought a brand new pickup truck and immediately loaded it with pallets of water from Sam's club.
She then unloaded the water at the police department with help from two newly sworn-in officers, Hughes said.
Some of the items donated to the Crestview Police Department included a waffle maker, bedding, plenty of diapers, toiletries, and even children's car seats.
The police department is continuously asking for socks and undergarments due to the inability to do laundry in the affected areas.
“Just that willingness to pitch in makes it a city wide effort," Hughes said.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The Crestview community continues assisting our eastern neighbors