The roar of the helicopter echoed across the isolated mountain top after delivering much needed supplies to a community cut off by Hurricane Helene. With roads washed out, there is no other way to reach these families desperate for supplies. 

A grassroots effort by The VFW Calabash Post 7288, The VFW 7288 Auxiliary, The Calabash Elks and the community of Oceanside Place worked together to make this relief effort happen quickly. On Sunday the VFW collected goods and money for hurricane relief.  A continuous stream of cars brought supplies to the post between 9:30 am and 1 PM, filling 7 SUV’s and a pickup truck to the brim. Water, canned goods, cleaning supplies, blankets, warm clothing, even inflatable mattresses and a grill were just part of the payload transferred to the Oceanside Place community center. 

Volunteers there sorted, boxed up, labeled and weighed the boxes to be delivered. By Monday evening two U-Haul trailers were filled with 7800 pounds of supplies for the 487 mile trip to Hickory, North Carolina.

On Tuesday morning, at 6:00 AM, volunteers drove two vehicles, hauling the filled to capacity trailers, northwest to Conover Fire Station 3 in Hickory. It took 30 minutes to unload the hundred or so boxes, but because they had been pre-sorted, labeled and weighed, as previously directed by the fire station, they were first to go to the waiting helicopters. By the time the tired caravan returned to Calabash, the goods collected on Sunday had already been delivered to the grateful people, cut-off on the mountaintop.

In addition to the goods collected, the VFW Calabash Post Auxiliary has collect over $2,000 dollars to help VFW Auxiliary members in the disaster area.

The VFW Calabash Post, The Calabash Elks and the community of Ocean Side Place thank the community members for their generosity in supporting this relief effort.

The delivery and disbursement of this load made a small dent in a huge problem. Items in need include larger size water (gallons), canned goods, manual can openers, blankets, sleeping bags, towels, warm clothing, toiletries, small propane tanks, camp stoves, new, unused gas cans and cleaning supplies.

The VFW Post continues to collect supplies at 900 Carter Dr. SW, Calabash, NC  during their  open hours of 1pm-7pm. Another trip to Hickory is being planned.