Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon is raising funds and collecting supplies to help the victims of the recent tornadoes that tore through the state of Kentucky.

As of publishing, Herndon has collected enough clothes, toys, food and hygiene products to fill three trailers, with two more already on the way.

"We want to show the people in Kentucky and around the world that we care," Herndon said. "After seeing all the people that showed up after the Tuscaloosa tornado in 2011, to see the outpouring of love and generosity, I vowed to do the same thing."

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He's been collecting items all week outside his business, Herndon Hicks & Associates, located at 2728 Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard in Northport.

Herndon is no stranger to philanthropy. Just this year, he's delivered truckloads of supplies to residents of surrounding counties impacted by tornadoes in late March, and he helped Northport firefighters raise over $19,000 for a local boy battling cancer.

In the past 10 years, Herndon has been to 11 cities and 4 states to deliver supplies to cities in the wake of natural disasters.

He told The Thread that several local businesses have stepped up in a big way to donate supplies. One business delivered over 1,000 silk screened t-shirts, and one group came to donate over 500 pounds in personal hygiene products.

"I hope that maybe after I'm gone, somebody will step up and continue this," he said.

Herndon said the last time he delivered five truck-loads, he helped to serve 500 families.

Also in attendance were representatives from several Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa's radio stations including Alt 101.7, 95.3 The Bear, 105.1 The Block and 92.9 WTUG. Tents were set up to draw donations in, and Herndon joked even that wouldn't be enough -- inside and outside of his office is already overstuffed with donations piled up.

"Townsquare Media's always been such a big help getting the word out about these things," Herndon said. "I appreciate them being here to help support this."

Once donation collection ends, Herndon and several volunteers will drive the trailers up to Clinton, Kentucky, just north of Mayfield where the most devastation was. They'll depart from Northport at 4 a.m. Saturday morning.

Herndon will be at his business collecting materials until 6 p.m. Until then, he said they're still taking all sorts of donations including food, clothes, toiletries, pillows, blankets, and anything else.

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