The 4 South PACU goes to Asheville
As many of you are aware, Western NC has been devastated by recent hurricane Helene. Many families and individuals have lost everything. The area is not suspected to have clean drinking water until mid- late December. Many are without food, clothing, heat, clean water, and basic necessities.
Mel Witten, 4S PACU RN and her husband recently went to Boone, NC to offer a helping hand. This is where she told the PACU of ways to offer hands on volunteering. Members of the 4S PACU were eager to step in and help. With Mel's recent trip to the area, they voiced a need for space heaters. The STEAM team within 4S PACU, put on a fundraiser to collect money/ space heaters to take to Western NC. Through this fundraiser, we were able to collect 14 space heaters. The 4S PACU had 5 staff members that took 14 space heaters and offered hands on support to the community.
When we arrived to Innsbruck Mall in Asheville, NC there was a sense of community and unsettling. We volunteered at a comfort aid station. Within this station, there were mobile bathrooms, showers, laundry, hot meals, and donated items. The community also had access to mobile charging stations to stay in touch with loved ones. Also, within this station was the National Guard. The National Guard was offering box or bottled water and MRE's (meals ready-to-eat). The rations were 2 MRE's per person and 1 case of box or bottled water per individual or pet in the household.
This experience was great as many of us take for granted the luxuries we have available. There are families that have lost everything and the sheer destruction will take years to rebuild. Keep those within the Western NC region in your thoughts and prayers.
If interested in volunteering, we found volunteer options through Hands On Asheville-Buncombe
