The Georgia Department of Education’s Foundation for Public Education is taking donations to help families in the South Georgia counties that were devastated by Hurricane Michael.

It is trying to raise $13,000 for necessities for the affected families.

“We are hearing from school leaders in those areas that very basic items are still needed – including personal hygiene products, nonperishable food items, bottled water, baby formula, and diapers,” a spokesperson for the organization said.

The donations are tax-deductible and go directly to those affected. Those wishing to make a donation can go to http://gfpe.org/invest/. Designate the gift as "disaster relief."

Michael charged into Georgia Oct. 10, packing 115 mph winds. It was the first Category 3 hurricane to make a direct hit on the state in more than a century, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz.

The storm weakened as it churned in a northeast arc through the state’s largely rural midsection, downing trees and power lines and destroying billions of dollars worth of cotton, pecans, lumber and other crops.

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8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres