When western North Carolina was devastated by the remnants of Hurricane Helene, one thing became clear: Appalachians help their neighbors.
Cherokee County residents are providing aid, supplies, volunteerism and shelter to their neighbors to the east. Local government, businesses, schools, churches and individuals have all pitched in to provide aid.
Collections initially began at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Murphy Fire Department. Officials expected the community to offer support, but they weren’t prepared for the sheer amount of donations, Murphy Fire Chief Al Lovingood said.
“They became overwhelmed,” he said.
The Murphy Police Department was set up as a donation hub, using trucks, a trailer and a donated U-Haul. However, as donations poured in, Murphy Police Chief Tom Lominac said it grew beyond their capability.
At the college
To allow law enforcement and fire officials to return to their missions, a partnership was created. Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers, president of Tri-County Community College, said the college recognized it has the facilities, partnerships and relationships to effectively coordinate the relief effort. As a result, the main local donation hub shifted to the college in Peachtree, using its trucks and trailers, storage space and students in the commercial driver training program run by Paul Worley to collect and transport the supplies.
By Monday, the college and its partners had sent four full shipments of aid to Henderson, Transylvania and Yancey counties. Moving forward, plans are to focus on the hardest-hit, smaller communities outside Asheville.
As needs evolve, members of the community can check the college’s Facebook page for up-to-date information about needed items. Donations can be brought to 21 Campus Circle from 1-6 p.m. daily. For a large donation, call 828-837-6810 to schedule a drop-off time.
The college is collaborating with the Murphy Mayor Tim Radford and other partners to ensure safety and efficacy when delivering supplies to areas devastated by Hurricane Helene. Radford – who has been in the field aiding with deliveries of food and medicine, fuel and other necessities – relayed the severity of the situation.
“In many areas, helicopter deliveries are necessary, roads are completely washed away, leaving just enough to pass through, and we’ve driven over countless power lines,” he said.
Radford encouraged local businesses, churches and individuals to bring all donations to Tri-County Community College to maximize support without adding challenges to recovery efforts.
“I’ve never been prouder to be the mayor of this town and couldn’t have anticipated the generosity of the citizens. We’re all in this together,” he said.
At the airport
One of the major partnerships with the college is the Cherokee Clay Food Alliance, which has been working out of Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews. J.C. Milam, a main organizer, said providing aid has been “gratifying, but a bit chaotic at times.”
Anything they receive is sent out the next day, he said. The needs of these communities are constantly shifting.
The alliance is focused on coordination and identifying safe drop-off locations and routes. It has delivered supplies to Asheville Black Mountain, Boone, Burnsville, Marion, Mitchell, Morganton, Newland, Spindale and Waynesville. Organizers want to continue focusing efforts on smaller, rural communities.
The alliance is also taking monetary donations that will go directly to food-related relief and efforts and is seeking volunteers who are willing to help with receiving, loading and delivering supplies.
Working with the alliance at the airport is Gayland Trull, a pilot of 35 years, who volunteered to initially fly supplies to areas in need.
They found it was more efficient to use the airport to collect supplies, then truck them to disaster areas. They are receiving 12-15 loads per day from as far away as New York, and by Saturday had delivered 3,500 pounds of supplies.
Trull has been helping with staging at the airport and with the delivery of supplies.
“The effort by the local community and government is just amazing,” he said. “I’m just glad I could step up to help.”
At local businesses
Donnie Simonds, owner of Double-Tap Tattoo & Tactical in Murphy, took the first load of supplies out Sept. 28 alongside the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office to Black Mountain. Since then, he has taken supplies daily to areas including Burnsville, Chimney Rock, Fairview and Spruce Pine.
He described this experience as “terrifying and humbling.” and wanted others to understand that despite the generosity and donations, the need to continue helping will be there for a long time. Simonds aided with recovery operations and search and rescue efforts over the weekend.
“The destruction is really unimaginable until you have been there to see it,” he said.
Simonds is collaborating with other local residents to increase the aid being provided. He helped Larry Butler, owner of Chevelles 66 Restaurant & Bar in Murphy, take supplies and hot meals to feed disaster victims and volunteers in Black Mountain and Swannanoa.
Other donors and participants in this effort include Performance Food Service and Foster Produce. Butler hopes to be able to do this in other communities as supplies come in and arrangements can be made with local organizations.
Simonds is also collecting items for the nursing homes in Cherokee and Clay counties that have taken in refugees from the disaster areas. The items needed are loose clothing (sweatpants, tops, sweaters and jackets), new underwear, pajamas, slippers with traction to prevent slipping, toiletries, and bags to hold the items.
Simonds continues to take all donations at Double-Tap Tattoo & Tactical from 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.
Blanketing Asheville
Murphy resident Mary Mason has been organizing Operation Blanketing Asheville. With fall arriving, there is the need for blankets, sweaters and coats.
She will have donation boxes set up at Appalachian Realty, Cherokee Guns and the Cherokee Scout, and hopes to have more set up before the donation date of Oct. 25. Mason asks that new or clean used items be bagged, tied and labeled based on the type of item (blanket, coats/sweaters, and gender with sizes). Simonds plans to deliver the winter wear where they are most needed.
Local schools volunteered to be donation hubs, and some continue to collect supplies and create volunteer opportunities for students:
- The Murphy High School Beta Club is running a drive to collect donations.
- Murphy High School student-athletes spent the weekend volunteering at a water distribution site in Asheville, where they helped distribute water, paper towels, ready-to-eat meals and other supplies.
- Many locals are using their businesses and skills to find ways to support damaged areas in western North Carolina:
- Leighann Stecher, owner of Leigh’s Design Co., sold T-shirts to raise money to purchase supplies. She was able to raise more than $500, which was then matched by The Lazy Elk Cabin Furniture in Murphy to purchase more than $1,200 worth of supplies, which were then donated.
- Anna Marie Whidden, owner of Marble Mountain Threads, is selling embroidered “WNC Strong” T-shirts and sweatshirts, and will be donating 100% of the profits to hurricane relief. She has raised an estimated $700 so far.
- Kristie’s Tees and Xpress Yourself also have shirt designs available to support hurricane victims.
- Te’lor Allen, owner of Tsav Magical Massage Studio, is running a raffle until Oct. 20 for a 90-minute massage – one ticket for $5, or five tickets for $20 – with proceeds going for relief.
For the animals
Cherokee County is also providing aid for animals affected by Hurricane Helene:
- Logan’s Run Rescue and Tri-State Spay/Neuter & Veterinary Clinic in Murphy have partnered with ASPCA Asheville and other animal organizations to transport animals left vulnerable to provide shelter, care and medical care.
- The Valley River Humane Society in Marble has been helping shelters in neighboring counties care for their animals.
- Roger Swanson of Murphy has offered free horse boarding while space is available.
How to help
Needs will be present for months, possibly years, as western North Carolina recovers and rebuilds. There are many ways the community can continue to provide aid:
- Trump/Robinson Center is collecting flashlights, batteries and solar lights that can be dropped off at 5621 U.S. 64 W. In Ranger.
- Autumn Moss Ritz is taking donations for Transylvania County through today at Martins Creek Elementary School, Re/Max Town & Country in Murphy, the Autumn Ritz Team and Murphy Middle School.
- Peachtree Produce is accepting donations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
- Murphy School of Dance can take donations from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Drop-off locations in Andrews include Andrews Recreation Park, The Bin Store (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, 5-7 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday), Farmhouse Diner in Marble and Snowbird Mountain Brewery on Fridays. The Compound is taking filled or empty propane tanks behind the building next to the basketball court.
- Cherokee Clay Food Alliance monetary donations can be made at square.link/u/xJRddh1b. See its Facebook page for volunteer opportunities.
- North Carolina has established the N.C. Disaster Relief Fund and is accepting donations.
- N.C. Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (ncvoad.org) is seeking volunteers.
- Other organizations providing aid include Samaritan’s Purse, World Central Kitchen, BeLoved Asheville, Baptists on Mission, First Free Will Baptist Church in Hayesville, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, Forsyth Humane Society, Operation BBQ Relief and the American Red Cross.
Many of these organizations accept donations as well, but make sure you are donating to a verified organization and look out for possible scams.
What to donate
Items needed include:
Breath mints, Vicks Vapor Rub, face masks, disposable coveralls, nose plugs, water, electrolyte drinks, non-perishable foods (pop open canned foods), manual can openers, diapers (baby and adult), pull-ups, wipes, baby formula (including lactose free) and bottles, baby snacks and food, utensils and paper-ware, hygiene products, feminine products, toilet paper, paper towels, cookstoves, charcoal, other forms of heat and fuel, gas cans, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, hand and foot warmers, any cold weather gear (hats, gloves, scarves, face coverings, thermal underwear);
Flashlights, batteries, coats (all sizes), over-the-counter medications (especially Benadryl due to a bee and yellow jacket problem), children’s medicines, hand sanitizer, bug sprays, reusable bags such as backpacks, pet foods, hardware and tools, crowbars, large hammers, utility knives and box cutters, flat bottom shovels, rubber and work gloves, rubber boots (all youth and adult sizes), safety glasses, trash bags (13 gallons or contractor size);
Bins/totes, plastic sheeting/tarps, cleaning supplies, dehumidifiers, generators, fans, activities for kids (crayons, markers, coloring/activity books, board/card games, new toys), new clothes (all sizes), new shoes (all sizes), new socks and new underwear.