ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – As the communities and people devastated by Hurricane Helene continue to pick up the pieces of their lives, many members of the Winthrop University community are pitching in to help.
Several Winthrop Athletics teams have led donation efforts for western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. The women’s volleyball team used a recent match as a call for donation items. Coach Heather Gearhart noted the donations have already been loaded into a truck and are on their way to those areas. The women’s soccer and lacrosse teams also collected supplies.
On a more personal note, Softball Coach Kendall Fuller, who previously coached at Lees-McCrae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina, has made several trips to the area to support her friends and former players and colleagues.
Read on to see how more Eagles have contributed so far:
*Jacob Ridgway, stewardship and events coordinator, Winthrop Athletics, has been in Hiwassee, Virginia, supporting clean-up efforts.
"I have an aunt and uncle in the area. It’s a small community on the New River. People
there are rallying to support one another any way they can. FEMA and AmeriCorps were
there to offer a hand as well. For perspective, 20 acres of debris including parts
of homes, boats, docks, etc., have gathered at the Claytor Lake dam."
*Ronda Collins, executive support specialist in the Richard W. Riley College of Education,
Sport, and Human Sciences
"My family and I love the N.C. mountains dearly. We have donated supplies that are
being run up to western North Carolina by fellow volunteer members of Halfway There
Rescue. They have also gathered people to cut trees off houses, clear roads and provide
medical assistance. My family is also supporting our favorite N.C. businesses by shopping
from their online stores and sister restaurants."
Jackie McFadden, dean of the Ida Jane Dacus Library
"I’ve donated hurricane supplies to Blue Goose Studios, a new art supply store located at 361 Oakland Avenue and owned by two Winthrop alumni, Andrew ’06, ’08, and Mary Sanders Lazenby ’04. Andrew then delivered the supplies to the affected areas."
Sara English '14, associate professor of social work
"I live in a rural area and worked with area churches to communicate ways for rural
residents to apply for services, including food distribution and how to access food
replacement funds from insurance, SNAP, etc.
I also worked with a car enthusiast group to which I belong. We visit N.C. annually
and collected a truckload of supplies for communities in the Blue Ridge Highway area.
I also helped support efforts of k9.5, an animal rescue group in Greenville, S.C."
Griffin McGarity '19, human resources assistant
"Human Resources has a basket in our department where we are collecting items for
western North Carolina. These items include blankets and cold weather accessories
as well as food and hygiene items."
Leslie Bickford, associate professor of English
"We donated supplies through Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church to a truck headed
up to Black Mountain, gave to the Red Cross, donated toilet paper to Orange Theory
Fitness which was collecting goods, and gave cases of water bottles to Rock Hill High
School’s football team, who distributed them in Rock Hill to people whose water was
cloudy following Hurricane Helene."
Drew Russell '18, '20, '23, reference and special projects archivist
"I'll be taking an SUV full of water and non-perishables there and helping with clean-up this weekend [Oct. 19-20]."
Several donated blood, such as Alice McLaine, chair of the Department of Physical Education, Sport, and Human Performance.
One of Winthrop’s core values is a commitment to community, and Winthrop’s faculty and staff have consistently stepped up to assist those in need near or far.
For more information on these efforts, please contact Nicole Chisari, social media manager, at 803/323-2403 or e-mail chisarin@winthrop.edu.
