[Huntington, West Virginia – October 8, 2024] – Valley Health Systems, Inc. is honored to coordinate a relief drive for Hurricane Helene survivors. Within four days, thousands and thousands of items were donated by Valley Health staff and community members to assist those trying to recover from Helene’s devastation. In total, six vehicles, including two 20-foot trailers filled to capacity, were laden with supplies, including:
- Paper products
- Medical supplies
- Hygiene items
- Cleaning supplies
- Baby necessities
- Lighters, matches, batteries
- Blankets/clothes
- Cases of water(50-75+)
- Pet food
- Generators
In addition, more than $2,400 was generously donated by staff and community members. A portion of these funds was used to purchase much-needed Starlink devices, providing internet and phone access for those working in remote mountain areas to aid recovery efforts.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the amazing Valley Health staff, our incredible patients, and our friends in the community for their support in the Hurricane Helene Relief drive. Your compassion and generosity will make a real difference in the lives of many thousands of people dealing with the effects of massive flooding, power outages, and washed-out roads. Your kindness has given hope to those who need it most, and we are incredibly grateful for your unwavering support during this challenging time.” — Mathew Weimer, President & CEO of Valley Health Systems Inc.
Valley Health partnered with Black Mountain Presbyterian Church to ensure the distribution of supplies to affected areas in North Carolina. The success of this relief effort would not have been possible without the dedication and contributions of so many. We are incredibly grateful to the following key contributors who made this mission a reality:
- Black Sheep Harley Davidson and Logan Shriners Club for their generous truck donations.
- Chasity Graybeal and Jess Staples assisted with coordinating the donation event and organized the influx of supplies.
- Chris and Ronnie Fleming (Tren Services), Sarah and Mike Schindler, and Doug and Naomi Jeffrey, who handled the transportation of supplies to North Carolina.
- From NCAC Church in Charleston, Anthony Moss assisted with donation collection, packing, and loading trucks.
- The dedicated Pea Ridge staff, who worked to collect, organize, and pack supplies for transport, including:
- Christy Hall, Emily Adkins, Kayla Thompson, Deb Rice, Tash Spence, Sarah Jeffers, Stephanie Elswick, Darlene Nance, Emily Martin, Amber Caldwell, Honey Harless, Ashley Carey, Rhonda Joplin, Rita Gray, Stephanie Rowe, Belinda Pleasant, Ibby Djimde, Robin Lambert, Shirley Birchfield, Ashley Houvouras, and Ryan Brady.
Valley Health is deeply thankful to everyone who contributed their time, resources, and efforts to this relief drive. This outpouring of support demonstrates our community’s incredible spirit of compassion and resilience. Together, we have provided critical aid to those in desperate need during this crisis, proving that we can truly make a difference when we come together.
