Shelby food truck owner shares experience feeding people in towns hit by Helene

When Walter Hoyle heard of the need to provide food to people in North Carolina's mountain towns devastated by Hurricane Helene, he was immediately on board.

A local chiropractor, Brad Moffitt, of Carolina Chiropractic Plus, organized food trucks to go out and set up in locations where they were most needed. Hoyle and his wife, Emily, own Lovebirds Pizza, and the couple suspended their normal operations and volunteered to help.

Hoyle said Tuesday, they set up outside a shelter at Glenwood Baptist Church in Marion and were able to provide meals for around 125 people. He said they dished up lasagna and drinks to those staying at the shelter and others driving through for a meal or supplies.

He said there were other people cooking meals, volunteers handing out supplies and water and anything else people might need. One person came through the line and asked for diabetic supplies, and volunteers were able to immediately provide the items.

He said as quickly as they made food and set it out on a table outside the food truck, it would disappear.

"It's a community effort," Hoyle said.

He said the Marion location is well-staffed and well-supplied.

"It looks like its time to push farther in and deeper to harder hit areas," he said.

On Wednesday, they were preparing to head to a fire department in Asheville and were pre-cooking lasagnas so they could warm them up when they arrived and have meals ready to serve.

"I really don't know what to expect," he said. "I didn't know what to expect yesterday. I'm assuming it's another shelter that Brad's lined up for us."

Thursday, they will be cooking pork butts someone donated and handing out pork buns and sliders in Chimney Rock.

"We expect tomorrow to be the neediest community we've seen," he said.

He said he was impressed with how well-run things were at the Marion location and described it as chaos, but organized chaos. He said the shelter had a maximum capacity of 150 and was at 120 people as of Tuesday with people constantly coming and going. The drive-thru line was 20 to 30 cars deep at all times.

Hoyle said everyone who came through was understanding and grateful.

"For the most part people are happy. There's heartbreaking stories, and people hugging and crying, but it's always followed with at least we have this. I've seen a lot of positivity."

Hoyle has been providing updates and photos on Lovebirds Pizza Facebook page.

"The love and care shown in that Marion community today, was so heart-warming. It was great to be able to feed so many today!" a post said Tuesday evening. "We are humbled. We are exhausted. Heading to Asheville tomorrow to do it again. If you are able to help in anyway please do! Our neighbors need us more than ever!!!"

For those who wish to help, they can Venmo Hoyle-yeah23 or Brad Moffitt at Brad-Moffitt.

Reach reporter Rebecca Sitzes at rsitzes@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Shelby food truck owner shares experience feeding people in towns hit by Helene