PORTSMOUTH, Va. — In North Carolina, families and rescue groups are combing through the mountains of what’s left after the hit of Hurricane Helene, and many are still in need.
“So when I heard about this situation — the devastation in North Carolina especially — I mean, it was just, wow, I’ve never seen such carnage, just such people in desperation,” said Larry Smiley.
And Hampton Roads is stepping up to the need.
Smiley’s Heating & Cooling, Mercy Chefs and Harbor Park are partnering with WAVY-TV 10 to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Former 10 On Your Side reporter Amy Avery, now with Mercy Chefs, said from the ground just how great the need is in western North Carolina.
“We saw a couple with their two kids and they were actually scooping water out of a water main break in the side of the road in Black Mountain,” Avery said. “And you could tell that that water was dirty, it was contaminated, and the one woman was bathing her children in it. So, the need for water is just so desperate in this area that people are doing everything that they can to get it. Their entire school was demolished, downtown was demolished. And this is actually a church here behind me that you can see, there is just incredible devastation in this area. But a lot of people are just truly desperate.”
Mercy Chefs has heard so many stories like these that they have been inundated with water donations and no longer need any.
At Harbor Park, a bus will be collecting donations Oct. 8 through Oct. 10, including baby formula, toothbrushes, non perishable food, toiletries and more.
Smiley’s Heating & Cooling will deliver the donations, ready to lend a helping hand to those in need.
“We have a fleet of about 60 different vehicles, box trucks,” Smiley said. “We got a bus, we got big pickup trucks. But right now we are going to take a bus. Right now we have two box trucks that we are going to designate to load them. We have a truck trailer, but again, I got 68, so I’m kind of like, ‘Hey, they need me.’ I want to do it because these are American people.”
Avery said that, so far, the meals they’ve served are bringing back hope to victims in the area.
“So when we’re able to take these … chef prepared meals into these communities, their entire face changes,” Avery said. “It goes from seeing the look in their eyes that hope is lost, to showing that there is that smile, there’s that bright look in their eyes, that they can they can move forward. And that’s what we hope to do here at Mercy Chefs.”
To help as many people as possible, it will take all of the community to make a difference.
“Being able to see everybody come together to make this happen is truly incredible,” Avery said. “You know, the community of Hampton Roads really touched my heart when I worked there, and being able to see all of this coming together to help these incredibly devastated communities is truly a blessing.”
Click here for more information about Help from Hampton Roads.