North Carolinians using their skills to help victims of Helene

GASTONIA, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — Many people in and around Mecklenburg County are donating their time, energy and money to give back to fellow North Carolinians hit hardest by Hurricane Helene.

Some are using the skills and talents they have to make a difference. For Gastonia native Kendall Massey, when he saw the devastation in western North Carolina following the catastrophic storm, he knew he had to do something.

“I was like you know what, I really want to go,” he said. “I want to help those people up there. They need it a lot more than the people down here.”

So the landscaper loaded up his truck with supplies and made the trip to the mountains.

“The videos and what you see on social media does not do it justice how devastating the impact of that storm was,” said Massey.

For four days, he and the Massey Landscaping team donated their services, cutting trees, clearing roads and loading up debris in Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk.

“Very small dent in the months and years to come to fixing what happened up there,” said Massey.

Massey didn’t do it because he had to but because he wanted to. He’ll head west again in the coming weeks to help more people affected.

“Literally, whatever talent, skill, characteristic, ability you have, it can be used up there,” he said.

The Hall family had the same idea.

“My skill is baking,” said Melissa Hall. “Harper likes to sell things, and so we’re just putting the skills that we have into helping.”

They put together a bake sale where all donations go to organizations helping with the Helene relief.

“My husband is from New Orleans, and so he was in New Orleans during Katrina and obviously lots of other hurricanes,” said Hall. “It’s just something that is kind of near and dear to our heart and we feel like we need to help.”

From sweet treats to cider, it didn’t take much to organize a small sale with a big impact in the Sedgefield neighborhood of Charlotte. It’s proof anyone can make a difference in a time when so many need support.

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