COLUMBIA, S.C. — Hurricane Helene knocked out power to more than a million South Carolinians at the height of the storm. Now, Camp Cole, which normally focuses on children, teens and adults with illnesses, is hosting around 192 line workers.
These workers have been working hard to restore power and repair damages across the Southeast.
“Camp Cole is a gift to the community; built by the community, for the community, we’re really just grateful that we were able to answer the call and just to serve them," said Margaret Deans-Grantz, a cofounder of Camp Cole. "Give them a place that really shows how appreciative our whole community is of the work they are doing.”
Camp Cole's team received a call from Dominion Energy saying their line workers needed a place to stay Friday morning. The camp's mission includes providing a safe place for people to gather and connect.
“I know people's lights are turning back on, and you don't even see the person that did it, and it allows you to take a step back and realize that the people that made that happen are humans too," Deans-Grantz said. "And that they are sacrificing their families, their home, all of this so we can have what we think we need back."
The community, including local schools, churches and school sports teams, has shown its support with water donations, snacks and handwritten notes. Camp Cole is a team of six, and it took all of them to plan this.
“We wanted the beds to be made, and we wanted it to be, you know, for them to feel like they were at home while they were here; our home is their home,” Deans-Grantz said.
Camp Cole's founders said they would provide shelter through the weekend and up to next week.
