Cumulus Media employees John Wolf, left, and Tyler Blythe load cases of bottled water onto a forklift Wednesday. The radio company collected bottled water to deliver to Flint, Michigan, this week.

After the devastating tornadoes of April 27, 2011, help poured in to North Alabama from across the nation. Volunteers came in with supplies and hearts ready to serve.

This display made an impression on Toni Terrell, a radio personality for local mixed music station WHRP, but she tucked it away as a precious memory.

Earlier this year, when it was revealed municipal water sources in Flint, Michigan, were tainted with high levels of lead and other contaminants, Terrell contacted a colleague in Flint to learn how the situation was impacting average citizens. She shared the interview with her listeners.

“Hearing her personal story, it just hit my spirit that I wanted to do more than a phone call and another report,” Terrell told The News Courier on Wednesday.

She remembered all the help the community received after the tornadoes and formed a plan — she would propose a donation drive to collect water for Flint.

Cumulus Media, the company that owns WHRP, WZYP and other local radio stations, agreed to host the drive over a two-week period and asked Mo ‘Mojo’ Jones, WZYP’s morning drive host, to participate with Terrell as the faces of the campaign. Jones, a Detroit native, agreed and the two are set to be in Flint over the weekend, delivering water collected by listeners.

The stations advertised their water drive and within the two weeks, collected more water than could fit inside a large Penske moving truck. Terrell said the overwhelming support shown to the water drive is proof North Alabama hasn’t forgotten the kindness showed them in times of need.

“The community, as you can see, felt the same way with their donations,” Terrell said Wednesday, pointing to pallets upon pallets of bottled waters stacked outside the Cumulus offices. “You know when people are just giving from the heart.”

Inside the radio station, more bottles filled up a break room and spilled into hallways.

“I am an emotional bubble right now,” Terrell said. “I am overwhelmed with joy. It is amazing.”

Terrell and Jones will be broadcasting from the road today as they travel to Michigan. On Friday, the two plan to meet up with partner radio stations in Flint to deliver water and report on the crisis. They will be broadcasting live from the scene, talking about the difference made by North Alabamians in the lives of Flint residents.

“I’m just proud of the Tennessee Valley stepping up,” Terrell said. “This has to be one of the best communities I have lived in.”