A Louisiana native, now living in Tampa is hoping to raise donations to send to Baton Rouge where historic flooding has devastated the state.
Matt Hamlin of Tampa says friends and family back home tell him they're having a hard time finding tools because hardware stores can't keep shelves stocked with items.
Hamlin, a graduate of Louisiana State University, said he's reached out to the LSU alumni of Tampa Bay to coordinate donations to get those in need.
Kyle Roger, Baton Rouge, spoke to ABC Action News, as he plans to fly to Tampa drive back the donations that are needed.
"Each time a store gets a shipment, it's gone immediately," he said.
Roger, called Tampa home for five years, and that's why he reached out to his former LSU friend Hamlin to start raising donations.
Roger said the donations will go to a Baton Rouge fire department, after most of them lost everything while rescuing hundreds of people in floodwaters.
"Instead of going to their homes and picking up as much of their stuff to get it above water, they went out to start rescuing people," he said.
With contractors short, everyone is helping one another to try and save what homes they can.
The items they are looking for: shovels, crowbars, hammers, shop vacs, brooms, liquid mold remover, gloves, and more.
The pair will take donations in the Home Depot parking lot off Dale Mabry Highway in Ballast Point from 5-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Look for the Uhaul truck in the Home Depot parking lot located at 5125 S Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.
