Stanly County residents, businesses and organizations continued this week to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene in the North Carolina mountains.
They did so at such a rate that by mid-week, some agencies were asking for a pause on donating certain items.
On Wednesday, the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office sent two pickup trucks, a tractor trailer and an enclosed trailer to Yancey County, where staff are coordinating with Yancey County Sheriff’s Office. This included eight pallets of water, baby items, children and adult clothes, food, batteries and hygiene items, according to Sgt. Karcin Vick-Dunn.
One team from the Sheriff’s Office was to return Wednesday night and another four-person team was to take their place. Another team has been in the area since Sept. 27.
Two other pickup trucks and a tractor trailer were escorted on Monday.
“The Sheriff’s Office will continue to collect throughout this week,” Vick-Dunn said on Wednesday. “We are affiliated and coordinating with multiple donation sites including the Richfield Fire Department drop off location.”
Vick-Dunn said teams from Stanly and elsewhere are using helicopters, ATVs, side-by-sides and heavy machinery.
She said she has been told baby bottles, batteries, flashlights, socks and boots have been requested by individuals being helped.
The Sheriff’s Office also offered protocol on making a delivery to the mountains.
“We are overwhelmed with donations continuing to come into the Sheriff’s Office and other drop off locations in the county. Stanly County has gone above and beyond and we will continue to get all the donations delivered to the places where they are needed most,” the Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page. “With that said, please read the instructions on how to safely contribute and get your donations to the appropriate drop off points. If you wish to deliver goods to the western part of North Carolina, you must reach out to your local Sheriff’s Office for a coordinated escort or submit your transportation plans to the BEOC [Business Emergency Operations Center]. Otherwise, you may be turned away at specific check points.
“We will continue to accept donations at the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office. Our teams are still boots on the ground and ask for your continued thoughts and prayers.”
Individuals can email their supply logistics or movement requests to BEOC@ncdps.gov with the subject line of Logistics Support.
Include the following in the email: What are you moving? Why you need special access? When do you plan to move and from where? Where are you going? When will they arrive at the “border to Western NC” and where?
The BEOC reports that roads west of Hickory are closed to traffic other than emergency services and pre-approved shipments from the BEOC.
On Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office asked local residents to halt donations to prevent shortages locally.
“Stanly County has shown up and shown out with donations for our western N.C. family! While we are immensely grateful, at this time we are encouraging Stanly County to consider a temporary pause in purchasing items at our local stores to prevent shortages for our own citizens,” the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office posted late Thursday afternoon on its Facebook page. “Our teams on the ground in Yancey County are advising they are having to work overtime to get the donations they have received distributed appropriately and safely. This brief pause will specifically allow the Yancey County distribution centers to catch up with the abundance of donations they have received.”
Trailers at Richfield and Millingport fire departments are almost full and will be placed on pause until the distribution centers are able to catch up, the Sheriff’s Office advised.
Albemarle Police Department officers were preparing for deployment as well this week, with donations for officers accepted through Friday at APD headquarters, 155 W. South St., Albemarle.
Stanfield Police Department posted online that it had sent officers to help as well.
“We are currently assisting with search and rescue as well as food distribution,” it posted Wednesday on Facebook. “For anyone who has donated supplies, we can tell you first hand they are showing up and being distributed to families who need them badly. It is a wonderful thing seeing community come together in a time of need.”
Badin Fire Department is collecting first aid kits to give to first responders, linemen and victims in Western North Carolina.
“Bandages, sting cream, ointments, Benadryl (pill & cream form), etc. are all needed,” the department posted online. “Please either get with a member of the department or drop items off at the front of the station — we will have a bin labeled for drop off.”
Like the Sheriff’s Office, Locust Police Department, on Wednesday, asked for a donation pause on one item: baby formula.
“We have been contacted and told local mothers are having trouble finding formula,” an LPD Facebook page post said. “Please consider other items for now to allow stores to restock for local customers.”
Locust Police Chief Jeff Shew said on Thursday that the department has transported eight full trailers of supplies, in trailers ranging from 12-16 feet.
“Supplies collected here have also been put on four other trailers or trucks going to affected areas,” Shew added.
Shew classified what his officers have seen as “devastation,” everything from destroyed houses and businesses to others with heavy flood damage.
“They’ve encountered washed out roads and bridges that they’ve mostly been able to get around, but at times have had to turn around and find another route,” he said. “Locust officers have focused on smaller areas where Federal and large amounts of aid are slow to get to. They’ve taken shipments to Burnsville, Lansing, Crumpler, Weaverville, West Jefferson and Drexel.
“Officer Eric Fore, who had the initiative and desire to start our department’s involvement in the collection and distribution operation, is in regular contact with personnel in the Western NC area and he is finding locations where the aid is badly needed. I’m extremely proud of him for his initiative and his selflessness as well as all of our officers from our newest patrol officer up to our assistant chief. I’ve witnessed every one of them helping with donations while on-duty for hours and then coming up to volunteer their time when they’re off-duty to help with donations and make supply runs up to areas in need. They are driving three or more hours to get there, spending several more hours to unload supplies, and then making the three or more hour trip back all in the same day.
“The Locust community is extremely blessed to have such an outstanding group of big hearted and public service minded officers serving here. I am personally extremely blessed to serve alongside each of them. I am also so proud of residents in Locust and surrounding areas for giving so graciously just trying to do something to help. It’s a blessing to serve in Locust.”

B.J. Drye is general manager/editor of The Stanly News & Press. Call 704-982-2123.