Ann Snodgrass, left, and Lisa Kotch pack items Thursday, Oct. 10, to take to Asheville, North Carolina next week. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle

BUTLER TWP — In recent days, the Kotch Insurance Agency has been flooded with donations to deliver to Asheville, N.C., where the son of the insurance agency’s owner is helping with hurricane relief efforts.

The agency has been collecting clothing, as well as nonperishable foods, hygiene items and baby needs, and while those donations have come in, the office has also gotten many items the organizers didn’t even think to ask for. The office has gotten donations like can openers, medicine and winter clothing, which everyone involved with the drive agreed will be needed by the people of Ashevile.

“We got a ton of kids’ clothing in,” said Ann Snodgrass, the sister of the insurance agency’s owner, Richard Kotch. “We are getting boots — we need boots of all shapes and sizes.”

Kotch, said Thursday, Oct. 10, he plans to leave for Asheville on Tuesday, to meet his son, Tyler Kotch, at BeLoved Asheville, an organization aiding in the relief effort.

The type of truck the family takes to North Carolina depends on how many donations the agency gets, but by Thursday morning, the lobby was already filled with cardboard boxes waiting to be packed.

“People want to help and it is overwhelming,” Kotch said.

Kotch Insurance Agency can be reached at 724-285-1164.

Lisa Kotch sorts clothing into a box Thursday, Oct. 10, to take to Asheville, North Carolina next week. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle

Rich Kotch, left, and Ann Snodgrass organize donations they received into boxes, which they plan to take to Asheville, North Carolina, next week. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle

The Kotch Insurance Agency is collecting donations to take to Asheville, North Carolina, to help victims of Hurricane Helene. From left are Ann Snodgrass, Richard Kotch, Lisa Kotch and Kim Kresh. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle