NORTH SHELBY – Firefighter Stephen Leachman helps people every day, but when he saw the devastation Hurricane Harvey has brought to Houston, Texas and surrounding areas, he knew an effort beyond his regular job description was needed.

Cahaba Valley Fire Department and North Shelby Fire Department are accepting donations for relief through 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, that Leachman will deliver to those in need.

“As a first responder, I felt the need to reach out and use our resources we have here in the community to help those that have lost a lot through the storm,” said Leachman, who works for both local departments.

Needed items include:

-Travel size toiletries

-Clothes (adult and child sizes)

-New packages of socks and underwear (adult and child sizes)

-Diapers

-Baby wipes

-Baby items

-Water

-Blankets

-New pillows

-School supplies

Donations will be accepted at CVFD Station 181, located at 5487 U.S. 280 (across the highway from the Lee Branch shopping center); and NSFD Station 2, located at 44996 Caldwell Mill Lane near the intersection of Caldwell Mill Road and Alabama 119.

On Sunday, Sept. 3, Leachman will load the items onto his personal enclosed trailer and drive to Houston.

Leachman said the donations would be distributed through a faith-based organization in the area, though he is still in the process of contacting organizations and determining which area to help.

“I’m trying to assess where the greatest need will be by the time we can make it down there,” he said.

Leachman said he is not concerned about the donations all fitting on the trailer.

“We’ll go again,” he said. “We’ll make another trip. If we can’t get it all in this load, we’ll come right back and make another trip and keep it going until we get everything down there.”