Relief efforts for NC hurricane victims

Loudoun residents continue to provide supplies and recovery assistance weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of western North Carolina.

David Keuhner, owner of One Family Brewing based in Lovettsville, was contacted by a friend who is working to assist people in North Carolina and asked for his help.

Keuhner was told that people are gearing up for the cold winter months while living in tents and cooking outdoors.

“When I heard that, I wanted to help. We have to do something to try to help as much as we can,” he said. “They are trying to figure out how people will manage when winter comes. The biggest challenge now is they are out of site and out of mind.”

Keuhner contacted his friend Brian Dean, president of WheelsOnSite USA, who was able to locate two large moving trailers from Interstate Moving so they could fill the trucks and deliver supplies.

They held an event on Nov. 9 at Keuhner’s property on Berlin Turnpike in Lovettsville and another in the Stone Ridge neighborhood.

Two more collections are scheduled for all day on Nov. 16 in Stone Ridge and Lovettsville, he said. Visit One Family Brewing on Facebook for details of the events and regular updates.

The trucks will depart Loudoun County during the first week of December.

“People are willing to help and we are providing a way to do that,” Keuhner said.

The supplies that are needed are items to help survive the winter months — small propane heaters, firewood, charcoal, grills, generators, sleeping bags, power supplies and tents designed for cold weather.

“The first weekend was good, and we received over $4,000 in financial donations as well, which we used to buy supplies,” Keuhner said. “What we were told is they do not need clothes; they have tons of clothing donations.”

Keuhner also is thinking ahead to the holiday season and is working with Bluemont Station Winery and Brewery this weekend to begin collecting for his annual “Pints for Presents” campaign.

Bluemont Station will be contributing $1 for every pint of beer sold to help raise money for holiday gifts — both for local children and children living in areas affected by the hurricane, he said.

Also working to help hurricane victims is Elizabeth Ford, founder of the Purcellville nonprofit BetterALife.

She was contacted by a friend who had seen the devastation in North Carolina and asked for her help.

Ford collected items including medicine, medical supplies, meals, diapers, formula and more, and drove a truck to Boone, North Carolina on Oct. 30. “I couldn’t imagine losing everything and wanted to help,” she said.

The town of Hillsboro held a square dance benefit event for victims of Hurricane Helene on Nov. 10, which raised more than $3,000. The funds will be designated for the North Carolina Arts Foundation Arts Disaster Relief Fund, according to Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance.

The Loudoun Appalachian Trail Association contributed $500 for the restoration of the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina, he said.

Several Asheville, North Carolina, artists were at the event, selling their own artwork and pieces from other artists.

“We are delighted to host this event and raise funds and awareness of the plight of residents and arts community in Asheville and across North Carolina,” Vance said. “And, as an Appalachian Trail community, we are happy to contribute to clear and restore parts of the AT ravaged by Helene.”

To donate to the North Carolina Arts Disaster Relief Fund, visit ncartsfoundation.org.