HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Many people in North Carolina are still suffering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, and local businesses in the Hampton Roads are trying to help.
“How can I help,” said Victoria Howell with MoMac Brewing Company.
Businesses across Hampton Roads are coming together to answer that question for those in western North Carolina still grappling with the destruction and death Helene brought them.
“Collecting water, blankets, anything that’s hygiene kits, anything that’s necessary for people [for] what they’ve gone through down in western North Carolina,” said Briar Baughman with Off Load Moving. “We’re just collecting it, trying to get everything together.”
Off Load Moving and JDog Junk Removal & Hauling of Hampton Roads are collecting donations in Virginia Beach, then they will drive the donations to those on the frontlines helping get people back to safety.
“Well, they take the brunt of the work, the struggle that they have with having to respond to these crisis situations,” said Jon Paul with Hampton Roads JDog Junk Removal & Hauling. “They don’t get to go home and just block it away. They have to continue on.”
MoMac Brewing Company in Portsmouth is also collecting donations. Their supplies are going to Operation Airdrop, which will take them to North Carolina. They say this hits home for them.
“We have a lot of customers who have family there,” Howell said. “I’m getting phone calls and horror stories of what’s actually happening down there and nobody’s really talking about it. The true devastation of what’s happened in those communities is more than any of us can realize.”
Both organizations are collecting donations all week long and say they are seeing plenty of support from community donations thus far.
“It’s just super exciting seeing the community come together,” said Amy Paul with Hampton Roads JDog Junk Removal & Hauling. “We’ve had an overwhelming amazing response today already. It’s just really special to see the community come together.”
You can donate to Hampton Roads JDog Junk Removal & Hauling at 789 Seahawk Circle in Virginia Beach this week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. For larger donations that need to be picked up, you can call the office at 757-618-8164.
MoMac Brewing Company is also collecting donations this week at their Portsmouth and Suffolk locations (Nansemond Brewing Station). The brewing company is hosting a fundraiser at noon, Oct. 27, with a portion of the vendor fees going to charities in western North Carolina.