10/15/2024
There is no need to rehash all of the devastation, pain and losses that have hit Western North Carolina in recent weeks; the coverage, needs, issues, etc, are running 24x7 on social, state, national and local media. And, so many of us from around the world, nation and North Carolina Communities are truly ALREADY lending hands, time and resources in a big way. But, the needs are huge, life-changing and life dependent, ongoing, real anierNOW!!!
ONS would be honored if next week the Town of Oak Island and surrounding communities could host a collection drive at the Oak Island Pier/Building 801. ONS will have its 8x14' hauling trailer on hand and can bring some items back to Winston-Salem. I hope we create a larger issue and need to rent or have someone donate a box truck to transport the items back to ONS in Wisnton-Salem. We have two 53' trailers and 5,000 of controlled-temp warehouse space currently storing our items in Winston-Salem. We run items up the mountain every two days to keep our storage space empty and items where they need to be. During our recent Relief Collection Drive hosted at Bass Pro Shops at Concord Mills near Charlotte the past few weeks, we collected 8.5 tractor-trailer loads and are continuing to collect but at a new facility in Winston-Salem for 3 more weeks. And, we have churches and ONSers running the items up to numerous victimized mountain communities. Boots on the ground and seeing the devastation first-hand only do the situation true justice.
Note: back in 2016 (Hurricane Matthew), ONS collected and sent 4 tractor-trailer loads of relief items to the New Bern flood victims. Again in 2018 (Hurricane Florence), ONS collected and sent from Bass Pro Shops 12 tractor-trailer loads to the Leland/Brunswick County Communities - and, ONS will be back again to Coastal NC Communities when called upon.
ONS would be honored to send some of Your Coastal Love up into the Western North Carolina Communities. The need is now, it is huge, cold and wet weather has arrived in the NC mountains, total devastation, basic water and power needs are still months away from being restored in most communities, etc. ETC. Victims and rescue crews are digging out utilizing extremely primitive and basic survival skills. There is loss of life too - not being discussed a lot - however - all types of loss of life.....
Thanks for considering this request and please share with the local media regarding a collection location.
Visit Operation North State's page: Hurricane Relief Collection Drive" for background info, ONS and our supporters' efforts over the past few weeks, current needs and daily updates.
I have already heard from several ONSers who will be attending next week that are donating some goodies - updated/needed items are listed on the page mentioned above..
Thanks One and ALL!
Terry
