Tuscaloosa businessman Stan Pate is using panels he purchased from Donald Trump's border wall for the greater good.
Pate bought the panels in a government auction. He is bringing them to the site of the former McFarland Mall in Tuscaloosa Monday so people can take photos with the wall in exchange for Hurricane Helene recovery donations.
Coats, blankets and money will be accepted. Pate said he has already made trips by plane and truck to Tennessee and he plans to use a helicopter to deliver to remote areas soon.
Tuscaloosa is no stranger to natural disasters. That's one reason Pate wanted to give back.
"The people of Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, they benefited in 2011 when other people stepped up to help," he said. "But I mean, the cold weather is a real challenge to this natural disaster. A real challenge."
"These cold fronts are moving in and I'm just responding to what I've been told when I'm up there," Pate said.
The wall will be in the Dollar Tree parking lot beginning at 7 a.m. Monday. Pate said he will stay there until people stop coming.
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