A veteran Federal technology executive has launched a GoFundMe campaign to bring crucial relief supplies and financial assistance to a western North Carolina community devastated by the impact of Hurricane Helene.
Gary Newgaard, a Pure Storage and Oracle vet who runs his own consulting firm, and his wife Deb launched the GoFundMe campaign on Sunday to speed relief supplies and funding to the small town of Waynesville, N.C., which was heavily damaged by the Sept. 26 hurricane.
The community is located 35 miles west of Asheville, N.C., and suffered catastrophic damage due to its mountain location. It’s also Deb Newgaard’s original hometown, and where she was visiting for her mother’s 87 birthday when the hurricane hit. She made it back to Northern Virginia with her mother last Tuesday.
The Newgaards are rallying their local Virginia community with the GoFundMe campaign and a plan to stock a 14-foot trailer with relief supplies and drive it to Waynesville on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
“I know many of us want to donate and help, but don’t know where to make the greatest impact,” Gary Newgaard said. “If you would like to help fill the trailer, it would be greatly appreciated by those in the most dire of situations!”
Donations of goods including food, water, warm blankets, and other supplies for the trailer delivery are due by Tuesday, Oct. 8.
An even quicker and equally effective way to contribute is to Gary and Deb’s GoFundMe site, with proceeds devoted to the relief effort.
Donations to the hurricane relief effort throughout Haywood County, N.C., may also be directed to the Haywood Christian Ministry, 150 Branner Ave., Waynesville, N.C. 28786.
