ATHENS, Ala. — Known locally as both Doomsday Haunted Attraction during Halloween and Doomsday Paintball/Airsoft for the rest of the year, the Doomsday attraction in Athens has collected a pallet of donations since October to be used in hurricane disaster relief throughout eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.
"We've been basically preparing huge care packs to bring out there," said Doomsday airsoft referee Anthony Aiello. "So, between Doomsday Haunt and Doomsday Paintball and Airsoft Park, we've collected a lot of items to donate to disaster relief."
From baby wipes to bottled formula, the Doomsday disaster relief for hurricanes Helene and Milton took off since the drive's inception just a month ago in October.
Another airsoft referee, Owen Huter said, "Coming in the first weekend of the Haunt to help out, it was just a few cases of sodas. Now, it's filled with diapers, necessities, cases of water, canned food."
At the paintball and airsoft park, players and referees both said the Doomsday community banded together to pull this off for the first time, and they added it won't be the last time, either.
"It is a sport," said airsoft player Nick Owen. "But it's also sort of like a mini family. Doomsday itself is sort of a family of airsoft [players]. Everybody coming out here, having fun and also contributing toward a good cause."
And Doomsday's owners, Hannah and Eric Riley, said they're getting ready to go to eastern Tennessee during the last weekend of November. They will be hand-delivering this care package on the ground there.
Owner Hannah Riley said, "These families are truly devastated, but the holidays don't stop because of that. And so, while mom and dad are trying to figure out how we're going to get a roof over our head or we've lost everything, in the back of the kid's mind they know Christmas is coming up."
And beside her, owner Eric Riley said, "If I had my way, I would form a literal army. And I don't think we'd have to look too far to find one that'd be willing to go out."
Doomsday might just have an airsoft army, but they also have a heart to help.
The Doomsday attraction will also hold a Christmas donation drive partnering with Toys for Tots in Huntsville. And Hannah and Eric Riley said in the future, they plan to make a new donation drive for every disaster they can, ranging from floods and fires to hurricanes.