Local man to drive trailer full of donations from Western New Yorkers to North Carolina

BEMUS POINT, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Chautauqua County resident decided to take his own trailer filled with donations from Western New Yorkers down to North Carolina to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. All it took was a simple post on social media for the support to start pouring in.

Blake Davis spoke with his friends who live in North Carolina on the phone just days after the hurricane made landfall. He learned that his friends lost everything — their homes are completely gone and they’re now living in tents.

“They wanted to see if I could do something for them,” Davis said. “They lost everything. Their houses are gone.”

Western New Yorker living in North Carolina describes aftermath of Hurricane Helene

On Tuesday, Davis began collecting donations from neighbors. In just a few hours, the lot was full of all sorts of items that are desperately needed down south.

Davis said his phone has been ringing nonstop with people wanting to donate more items or even send money to him to help fund his trip.

“It’s been absolutely amazing,” he said. “I mean the community has really stepped up.”

A team of volunteers have also spent all day at the donation drop off site doing their part to lend a helping hand. The volunteers said although Western New York is hundreds of miles away from the damage, North Carolina residents are still their neighbors.

“If your family is in a crisis, what would you want them to have?” said Irene Fain, a Bemus Point resident. “That’s what we’re doing here.”

Davis plans on spending a week in North Carolina to volunteer his time. On top of dropping off the donations, he plans on cutting down trees, clearing roads and handing out warm meals.

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He said he’s grateful knowing that he’s going to make a difference and encourages anyone who can to do the same.

“In the world we live in now, with political divides, we have to put that aside and help each other,” Davis said.

Davis and his crew are looking for donations of baby bottles, diapers, clothes, blankets, cleaning supplies, dry goods, water, pet food and personal hygiene products. Donations are being accepted Wednesday and Thursday at the Ellery Town Building located on Route 430 in Greenhurst.

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Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.

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