Hay Bales to Hydraulic Fluid: How to Help After Hurricane Helene

I, Bernie Harberts, did not use generative AI to write or illustrate this article. Spell check and grammar check, yes. AI, no.

Got any hay bales, hydraulic fluid or paper towels you’re not using? Do you want to help out folks that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene but don’t know how to get things into the right hands? Here’s how to get those supplies into the hands that need them.

In the week or so since Hurricane Helene smashed into western North Carolina, folks have contacted Julia and I asking how they can help those impacted by the storm. A few of them have expressly said that, instead of working with giant aid agencies, they want to work with community-based agencies. Here, in no particular order, is a list of folks in hard-hit communities we’re working with and what they’re looking for.

RiverGirl Fishing Company

Julia and I met Kelly and Renata, who run RiverGirl Fishing Company, while riding our mules from North Carolina to Virginia and back. They operate a fishing guide and kayaking service out of Todd, North Carolina. More than that, they are pillars of the Todd community and go way beyond teaching people how to shoot rapids and catch trout.

Kelly and Renata have spearheaded a massive clean-up effort covering the rural communities of Meat Camp, Todd, West Jefferson, Fleetwood and Todd Island Park. Kelly has done an extraordinary job organizing volunteers, up to 65 at a time, help the area get back onto its feet. They are repairing washed-out driveways, chainsawing downed timber and retrieving massive amounts of garbage the Hurricane Helene washed into the New River. Right now Kelly says she could use:

• hydraulic fluid
• Buddy Heaters
• propane tanks (20 lb)
• gas
• diesel
• napkins
• Damp-Rid
• dehumidifiers
• camp stoves
• fire extinguishers

Kelly posts daily, sometimes hourly, about cleanup efforts right here. What she needs changes from day to day so be sure to check out what she’s looking for. Julia and I plan to bring her and Renata much-needed supplies on Friday. Hang on guys, we’ll be there soon!

Contact:

4041 RailRoad Grade Road

Historic Todd, NC 28684

Ph: 336-877-3099

www.rivergirlfishing.com

On FaceBook

The Western North Carolina Regional Livestock Center

The Western North Carolina Regional Livestock Center is located in Canton, North Carolina, west of Asheville. Asheville was devastated by Hurricane Helene. I heard of the Western Regional Livestock Center (which I’ll call the WNCRLC for short) while delivering a load of hay to Black Mountain. The person I delivered the hay to had received much-needed supplies from the WNCRLC and spoke highly of them.

I gave the WNCRLC a call today (Tuesday, October 8) and was informed they are still accepting hay, both round and square bales. They also need:

• fencing materials including t-posts, barbed wire, smooth wire, electric fencing
• chicken feed

Western North Carolina Regional Livestock Center info:

474 Stock Drive

Canton, NC 28716

Ph: (828) 646-3700

email: [email protected]

On FaceBook

Call ahead to make sure they can accept your donations

Four Hooves Large Animals Services, LLC

Four Hooves Large Animal Services specializes in large animal technical rescue emergency response and training for emergency responders and veterinary professionals. They have a fleet of emergency response vehicles that range from trailers equipped for large animals extraction to trailers designed to haul specialized gear. I have seen, first-hand, how Four Hooves Large Animal Services has helped horse owners in western North Carolina.

Four Hooves Large Animal Services is owned by Justin and Tori McLeod, and is based in Bisco, North Carolina. I remember the emergency service provider they acquired from my days in Southern Pines, North Carolina back in the early 2000s.

I spoke with Justin on the phone and his organization is heavily involved in assisting large animals and large animal owners impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Four Hooves Large Animal Services, LLC info:

Ph: 919 201 6789

On FaceBook

You can also donate here on Facebook

Four Hooves can also receive donations as a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization. More details on their 4HLAS non-profit right here.

Call Before You Show Up

While it feels good to show up in person to drop off items, that can pose problems. Many of the roads in affected areas are still covered in fallen trees, power lines, work crews and even transformers. Others have been damaged or even washed away. So, the less traffic, the better.

Then there’s the matter of drop-off points being overwhelmed with large donated items. Here’s an example. Western North Carolina is home to lots of horses and cattle. So, when the storm struck, there was an immediate shortage of hay. Within days, lots of folks, including me, hauled loads of hay up the affected areas. The challenge was that the hay kept coming. And coming. And coming. In some cases, drop off points had to discourage any more donations of square bales and round bales because they didn’t have any place to store the hay.
Other places, like the Western Regional Livestock Center in Canton, North Carolina, are still accepting donations of hay (as of October 8, 2024).
If you have ag-related items to donate, especially bulky ones like hay bales, it’s important to coordinate with the drop-off point first to see if they have space. If they’re full, they can probably direct you to another drop-off point. Remember, your gift is important, but it may take some patience and coordination to ensure it reaches the right hands.

Please Share and Beware

Please share this information with anyone who might need it. Many people in western North Carolina and other areas impacted by Hurricane Helene are doing honest and admirable work helping others get back on their feet. Unfortunately, there are also some individuals and organizations who are fraudulently collecting donations without any intention of distributing them to those in need. Please take the time to research and ensure that your donations reach the intended recipients.

To be Continued

Check back soon as Julia and I post more organizations we feel are doing a good job distributing aid and needed supplies to those impacted by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.

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