Elon students and faculty have been using their free time to help with relief efforts in western North Carolina.
Since Hurricane Helene devasted areas of western North Carolina in September, the Elon University community has continued to help in relief efforts.
In October, “Today at Elon” spoke with several alumni helping with hurricane recovery, but students and faculty have also been hard at work during their free time from the classroom.
A greater cause
The desire to help was personal for Eddie “Tyler” White G’25, a physician assistant studies student from Taylorsville, North Carolina.
“I’ve always had this calling for service. From a very young age, I’ve always felt this desire to help others,” said White, who earned his undergraduate degree from Western Carolina University, which was impacted by the storm.
White connected with Kim Stokes, chair and program director of the physician assistant studies program, about how they could help. Their class collected non-perishable items to donate, and White raised $600 to $700 in donations. Originally from Ashe County, North Carolina, Stokes has also volunteered to organize donations and educate others about the efforts.
“I collected information on donations and ways to serve in the county and shared that information daily on social media until there was enough county infrastructure to do this for themselves,” said Stokes. “I also noted that my social media contacts in Ashe County commonly did not have reliable internet, so I used my internet to help serve them by correcting misinformation as I could.”
After collecting the donations, White personally took them to a donation site at the Hickory Regional Airport over fall break.
“It was very fulfilling,” said White. “I like to get my hands dirty, and it definitely scratched that itch for me. It let me know that I do more than just boots-on-the-ground working. I can delegate and bring people together for a greater cause.”
Neighbors helping neighbors
White’s classmates, Mia Cleary G’25 and Katrina Jackson G’25, also wanted to do more to help. The pair traveled to Lansing, North Carolina, over the fall break to work in a donation center as “personal shoppers,” helping residents get items they needed.
“You see something like this happen, and we heard stories, both from the people that we know that did have connections there and the photos that were coming out,” said Jackson. “I personally wanted to help while we had the free time.”
The pair were inspired by the community in western North Carolina – coming together to help one another.
“It sounds cliché, but people really rallied around their neighbors, and half the volunteers that we were with were people from the community,” said Jackson. “They were like, ‘I’m OK, but I have to help out my neighbors.’”
The Kernodle Center for Civic Life has also partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina – headed by Elon parent Eric Aft P’22. In October, November and December, students, faculty and staff have been invited to pack meals with the food bank in Winston-Salem.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of Second Harvest’s work. Without their involvement, we would be unable to sort, pack and distribute food critical to thousands of families in Alamance County and across northwest North Carolina,” said Aft, chief executive officer of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. “Elon’s commitment to being part of our mission is greatly appreciated. As the students, faculty and staff volunteer with us, they ensure we can get food where it is needed most, and it is our goal to help everyone understand why our work is needed and how it impacts the children and families of our region. It is an important partnership for us and the individuals we serve.”
How you can help
Those interested in volunteering at Second Harvest on Dec. 8 can sign up through the interest form. The Kernodle Center is also exploring the possibility of partnering with an umbrella organization, Community Collaborations, that will support disaster relief work in western North Carolina during Elon’s spring break in March. The potential dates for this experience are March 16-21.
If Elon students are interested in receiving up-to-date information and participating in this experience, fill out the interest form. Note that filling out this form does not commit you to participating in this experience. If you have questions about this experience, email Kyle Anderson in the Kernodle Center for Civic Life at kanderson52@elon.edu.
Donations to the Elon Chaplain’s Fund will also help those in the Elon University community who have been affected by challenging circumstances.