Indiana Red Cross volunteers heading south to help Hurricane Matthew victims

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – As Hurricane Matthew makes its way north, several Hoosiers are heading south to help.

The American Red Cross Indiana Region Chapter said 15 Indiana volunteers are in the southeast. They are everywhere from Florida to South Carolina.

Michael Mays flew to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Friday morning. He’ll be working in a shelter.

“The littlest thing you can do makes the biggest difference,” Mays said. “One smile, can change the world.”

Mays started to work with the Red Cross after tornadoes hit Kokomo in August. He spent two weeks volunteering at the Kokomo Event Center. It’s a trip he told his wife changed his life.

“Got some tears in my eyes, and told her I wish I could do more,” Mays said. She said, you’re the fix it kind of guy, go fix it, and I went back the next day and spent 14 more days in Kokomo helping the American Red Cross.”

The Howard County site served more than 100 people. They were able to get a place to sleep, eat and learn about information available to them.

The Red Cross will open shelters across the southeast. It will also deliver meals and comfort items to hurricane victims.

Mays isn’t the last Hoosier to head south. At least two more will leave Indiana Friday morning.

“There’s times when all you want to do is walk away and cry, because the things you take for granted, these people don’t have,” Mays said. But the power of volunteering is just empowering. You feel it.”

The Red Cross is taking donations to help victims. Click here to donate.