The only person at Charlotte for the Short Track World Championship that was happier than me was Matt Gilbert in the 117 team car that picked up the win!!
As the holiday season wraps us in its warmth and cheer, we pause to share our heartfelt gratitude. Thank you for your generosity to help give some holiday spirit to our WNC neighbors. From the Burnsville toy drive, the high school coat drive and Christmas gift baskets.
The further we get from the point of impact, both in time and space, the easier it is to forget how much work is left to be done. While most people have shifted their focus to the presidential outcome others remain steadfastly connected to the needs of those in our communities still reeling from the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Helene barely a month and a half ago.
Two who haven’t are @mikelingerfelt and his wife Gayle. Gayle’s next mission is to do a toy drive and gift basket for Christmas for a few families. This was her message to a few businesses today to get a little help with discounts or donations:
“Over the last month I’ve been working out of a warehouse in Shelby NC helping provide essentials to families in WNC. What started as a conversation with a friend who owns a trucking company in PA. One tractor trailer load of donations turned into a total of 10 tractor trailer loads, (this included one from OH). I’ve personally unloaded, distributed, and helped over 1100 people. This included pallets of supplies and food to over 75 fire stations and churchs. It’s truly been a blessing to these families and heart warming for all those involved, especially me!
I decided to start a Christmas drive to provide another way to help these families. My goal is to fill 25-30 baskets with local products. All donations will be personally delivered to the families in the Burnsville area. If you’re interested in helping in any way. Please let me know. The deadline is Nov. 17. I know this is a short timeline but this will give me time to arrange and deliver to Burnsville at there requested Christmas deadline date.”
Please spread the word and consider what you can do to support their efforts to ease the pain and bring joy to the families of Burnsville, NC. For those that accept the challenge, DM me and we can talk delivery info as we will be collecting for Mike & Gayle and bringing everything to them in Shelby at once (unless you make us need to take more trips).
PS - I dare you to blow Gayle’s goals out of the water!!!
Just finished a couple great days in the mountains. The only reason I say “great days” is because of the amazing work that was done by the fellas from Kansas, PA and Big Dog Andy. Lots of people were helped and friends made!
The link below is from a story that WSOC tv did on one of the areas that we’re helping. It’s getting worse, not better due to the new flow of the river washing out the roads. Keep helping anyway that you can.
https://t.co/G9lJ36Nmtj
Another productive day supporting Black Mountain, Marion and others today. Had a bunch of heart warming moments today with notes and hand made blankets.
Received the first of a few trucks from Ginger Davis. Lots of items unloaded, sorted and picked up. Thanks to Andy Thomas for sending a truck down to get the feed from yesterday, Gayle and Emily, the NG and all the other volunteers. Y’all are amazing!
A couple more families will be warm tonight in Burnsville! Kids will have some toys for Christmas! Thanks to Murphys Garden Center. Keith and Tom Bowman Trucking, Thank you to all the volunteers from hearts n hooves, rescue ranch and the national guard.
Thanks Mark Kennerly and Scott Kirkpatrick with Rowan Septic Tank for the hand washing station. Kids at Grassy Branch Baptist Church are thankful. Thank you to Quinner and Gayle for making deliveries.
Carson thanks for all that your doing in providing fresh water to everyone
Another day and another full tractor trailer load from Tom Bowman Trucking. Can’t thank them, all the ones that donated, @MattAreyFishing , Emily and Gayle enough it’s amazing what is being done to help serve
Thanks to Tom Bowman Trucking for another load today! Also thanks to Gayle, @MattAreyFishing , Emily, Aaron, Kelly Bowman and all the other volunteers today that unloaded the load today. This is incredible off a simple request for some paper supplies. Y’all are amazing
Another full truck load of donations thanks to Tom Bowman Trucking. Thanks to them for all the hard work and thanks to everyone that helped unload, sort and distribute today. We have another one showing up in the morning!
10/6/24
Randomly landed in this area where the fire station is gone, houses no longer line the creek, roads are completely gone, bridge is split in two, and active search and rescue were taking place. Told power would take 4-5 months.
We noticed no cell service so we were able to drop a starlink system to make sure they get connected.
📍Pisgah National Forest somewhere