Cargo plane departs to Asheville full of supplies

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Local organizers headed to Charleston International Airport in a U-Haul full of supplies.

At HYLO Fitness, Cam Brown organized a supply drive that would be sent up north. Brown and Charleston County officials organized a plan to load up a cargo plane that will fly to Asheville, North Carolina.

“Once I started seeing how much stuff we were collecting already,” Brown said. “It was kind of like being a divine intervention, it was like being in contact with the right people at the right time. He was organizing something with the Charleston County Sheriffs and it just kind of all lined up. They were like anything you have, we’ll take on our cargo plane.”

Brown and her husband, Cory Brown, have personal ties to the areas that were hit hardest.

“Some of my friends got cell service back or got evacuated from Asheville, and I was able to get in touch with them,” Brown said. “They started sending me pictures and stories of our communities – we used to live in the River Arts District, and it was completely devastated. That’s when I knew I had to do something.”

The donations have amounted to hundreds of critical items such as cleaning supplies, water, and food. The plane is expected to carry some of those along with pallets of water, diapers, and more. Brown said she had updated the county organizers and they have been overwhelmed by the response.

“I’ve been sending them pictures and they’re just like oh my goodness. I think this is more than they thought that they’ll be able to get from the community, but they’re taking all of it.”

The supplies will be flown to Asheville County Airport tomorrow morning. Brown said HYLO Fitness in West Ashley along with Angel Oak Elementary and ETHOS will accept more supplies. The Browns plan to drive to Asheville to help distribute and work on the ground next week.

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