22/10/2024
Day 25: Hurricane Helene Rapid Relief Update
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As nightly temperatures have dropped and those still without power need heat, this last week we have focused our supply and logistics work on helping people prepare for a winter without power and in many cases water.
This past week our dear and his partner were able to raise $2,000 and brought 23 tough buddy heaters to us. We then delivered them to the hardest hit areas in Yancey and Mitchell county.
Yesterday we took another 21 heaters to key distribution hubs and we will continue to do so.
The morale among volunteers is high…the high energy that people share, the interest, love and compassion, when serving others is inspiring.
We met Amy Tilly, volunteering in Yancey county and making sure that donated heaters go only to those in need. It is often surprising that unscrupulous individuals will often try to get free supplies they don’t need. So it is necessary to vet people by asking questions” “Do you have power? Do you have water? Do you have heat?” I watched as some people tried to get free heaters even though they had heat at home!
But it’s encouraging that most of the time, honest people are just trying to get viable help.
We met Julie Wiggins overseeing heating supply distribution at Bowman middle school in Mitchell county, close to Relief and Green Mountain that were featured on 60 minutes. Julie had experience with hurricanes on the NC coast and jumped right into help…her uplifting spirit and positivity gave us hope that the community will get through this…
We have donated over $9,000 so far and continue to check in on our supply chains to identify areas of need that often change every few days as more supplies arrive.
We have witnessed first hand that charities, NGOs and non-profits are working hand in hand with local government and the federal government…Samaritan’s Purse has been particularly incredible, and I am proud that my sister, and brother in law, Gracie O'Loughlin and Sean O’Loughlin work there.
It was inspiring to talk to the army national guard at the Fred's distribution hub in Burnsville NC…the local community has embraced these men and women who have a camp set up and live there full time, often using their ATVs to distribute heaters and other supplies to difficult to access areas…
We can’t thank you enough for all the support and please know that your donations are going directly to help people in need, in the hardest hit areas…thank you…
If you would like to help us help others, you can donate: please do so via Venmo, PayPal, or send us a check at: James Whittle, 6 Piedmont rd. Asheville NC 28804.
https://venmo.com/u/jamescwhittle (last four phone digits: 4405)
PayPal: jamescwhittle@gmail.com
Here are some of the photos from this past week...
