Asheville Hit Hard
One month ago Hurricane Helen hit our beloved Western North Carolina mountains and we have been reeling ever since. The storm wiped out our water supply, knocked out power in the region, and shut down internet and cell service. Worst of all have been the stories of lost lives and ruined homes and property. Our PAX are spread throughout the region, and as soon as comms came back online our guys were checking on each other, sharing resources, and making plans to serve. Some guys were displaced out of town, while others were low on gas and couldn’t get around, so the slack channels and text chains became a lifeline of support and encouragement. There are too many guys to shout out and stories to tell, but we wanted to recognize here some of the good that happened in the midst of such destruction.
In the pics below you will see F3 guys mucking out buildings (BRR guys might recognize Laurel Branch Baptist, home of the EZ30 pancake breakfast), reframing homes, pulling tractors out of rivers and fixing them up, moving PAX from damaged home, coordinating volunteers, and loading and unloading supplies. We are grateful for the guys down the road at F3 Waynesville for showing up strong for these cleanup efforts. Lots of our guys jumped in with local churches, ministries, and nonprofits to do anything we could to lend a hand.
Help from Downrange
Even as our local PAX started to mobilize, F3 Nation reached out in mass to check on us and offer help. Among other places, we heard from F3 Charleston, Raleigh, and Wilmington who offered to send supplies and open their homes to displaced brothers. F3 Waxhaw, under the leadership of Zinfandel, brought in two huge Ryder trucks full of supplies and unloaded at a local church for distribution. F3 Anderson joined the cause with Dingy and the guys raising funds to donate hundreds of 5-gallon water jugs. Solo PAX from Charlotte (Grizzly) and Sandhills (Squirrel) showed up with much needed supplies and aid. And the flow continues - we keep hearing from the Nation every day! As one of our guys said, “Other than our church, F3 has been the largest source of community and resources through this whole thing.”
The Long Road Ahead
The first phase of the disaster and recovery seems to be over, but we have a long road to rebuild much of WNC. Our guys are jumping in to serve where they can, and due to the vast scope of the recovery efforts, we have joined with some larger orgs. For those looking to give or serve, here are some groups our PAX are currently working with:
