Businesses mobilize to get food, water and other essentials to Western NC: 'Here for them'

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- More help is on the way to western Carolina in the wake of the destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene. The Triangle community continues to answer the call by donating much-needed items like food, water, and personal hygiene products.

The sound of compassion can be heard echoing loudly through the No Woman No Girl Initiative office. The Raleigh-based nonprofit started collecting items Thursday once it realized the storm was heading to Asheville.

"If a woman is menstruating, we're making sure she has access to period products as well as other things," said founder Shirnetta Harrell. "This is crucial right now. I'm from Nash County. There was an impact in my hometown of Rocky Mount with tornadoes. We're just seeing an opportunity for our mission to get involved."

Many people are getting involved by rolling up their sleeves to help out. It's an all-hands-on-deck effort to make thousands of sandwiches to send to Boone, North Carolina. Rocky Top Catering has partnered with World Central Kitchen and Overflowing Hands to make six thousand sandwiches.

"Sandwiches are quick and easy," said Dean Ogan with Rocky Top Catering.

"The sandwiches we make have a lot of protein, a lot of fat and a lot of mayo. It's a lot of nourishment that people who haven't had a good meal can get right off the bat."

It's become a call to action that many communities are answering. In Morrisville at the Hindu Society of North Carolina, volunteers like Max Ganorkar are hard at work.

"I grew up in India. Every time there was a natural disaster Americans were always first to open their hearts and wallets," said Ganorkar. "This gives us an opportunity to reach out to them."

This interfaith effort was organized Monday afternoon. They gathered mostly water and some food to send to Marion and Burnsville

"By this morning we had two trailers full and ready to go to the mountains," he said. "When they need us we are here for them."

Businesses organize donation drives for Western NC

Business owners across the Triangle and Sandhills are rallying around their neighbors in western North Carolina by organizing donation drives.

Monday ABC11 talked to business owners across the Triangle and Sandhills who are rallying around their neighbors in western North Carolina by organizing donation drives.

Many were impacted by Hurricane Helene's catastrophic storm. It's left them without food, clothes, or homes. Times like this show the heart of the community.

"It just hit us. We've got trucks sitting around. We've got people. We've got to do something," said Lee Gardener, owner of Lee's 24-Hr Towing.

"You've got entire towns gone. People have nothing."

Durhamites filled three semi-trucks with donations to get them on the road to the mountains as soon as possible. Gemini Janas dropped off items to the Durham Rescue Mission's effort as she thought of the many college students affected.

"Gosh, those students that are there and the parents wanting to get to their kids definitely pulled on my heartstrings a lot," she said.

At Durham's food truck park, the Can Opener, several businesses have partnered with them to collect food and make a difference.

"Right now, it's a mad dash of anything we can get our hands on that's not perishable," said Trevor Hayes, owner of Hometown Martial Arts Raleigh. "It's a civic duty. If you live here and have a neighbor in trouble, you go help them. Plain and simple."

Donations started coming in at the businesses early Monday morning. They expect to have a weekly pickup for the next month or two. They are even raffling off an incentive to one lucky donor.

"We're going to give free coffee away for a full year 365 days," said Charlie Ji, owner of the Can Opener.

RELATED | How to help those affected by Helene: volunteering, donations and other resources

Down in the sandhills at Elite Aircraft Services, relief efforts continue. Plans are underway to fly all donations they receive to Western Carolina. They can't take water because of its weight.

"A private owner volunteered his aircraft to go," said Marcie Walsh with Elite Aircraft Services. "There's so many small towns that need help like Swannanoa, Bat Cave, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock. All those places need our help."

This mission is personal for Walsh because she's a 2011 graduate of Appalachian State University.

"A lot of the people affected are friends, colleagues and mentors. I have one friend that lost everything except for the clothes on her back," she said.

Donations can be taken directly to Raleigh Executive Jetport on 700 Rod Sullivan Road in Sanford, North Carolina.

They will be allocated to non-profit organizations Operation Airdrop and Carolina Aviators Network (CAN). Drop-off hours will run from 8 am - 6 pm daily.

The Raleigh Executive Jetport is also hosting a "Pack-a-Plane "event on Saturday, Oct 5th, 10 am-3 pm.

People can bring the donations to Family Day, and load them on the airplane. They will be able to watch the planes take off to Western NC.

SEE ALSO | VIDEO: Scenes of Helene's deadly wrath from western to central North Carolina