Skook Road Trip Relief!

We are planning a relief trip to North Carolina to provide over 5,000 meals in the Asheville and Black Mountain region! We will be taking 30+ volunteers, thousands of pounds of food and supplies, and strong encouragement to areas ravaged by Hurricane Helene. There are multiple events, opportunities to volunteer, and ways YOU can contribute beyond financial donations!

READ MORE ABOUT THE STORY HERE:

Last week, Brandon Kopinetz, owner of The Washington Hotel in Minersville, PA, shared a conversation he had with his wife, Evelyn, in a Facebook post that went viral. Evelyn encouraged Brandon to help the victims of Hurricane Helene, based on his previous experience with local disasters. Evelyn and Brandon both understood that the people of North Carolina—big-hearted fellow Americans—are now in need of assistance through no fault of their own, and we are in a position to help.

Within 24 hours, three other Schuylkill County business owners (Jason Bowers, Jeffrey Dunkel, and Bobby Weaver) offered support in leading this massive relief effort from Schuylkill County to North Carolina.

The team is coordinating plans to take over 30+ volunteers, along with multiple trucks full of supplies, to the Asheville and Black Mountain region of North Carolina, one of the areas most devastated by Hurricane Helene. These supplies and volunteers will be used to construct a centralized pantry and outdoor kitchen, with the primary goal of serving 5,000 meals over three days. The intention is to leave these systems and equipment in place to provide tens of thousands of additional meals in the weeks that follow.

Here at home, more than 10 drop-off locations have been established across the county to collect essential items, including non-perishable foods, hygiene products, baby formula, diapers, and supplies for temporary shelter (such as batteries and blankets), as well as comfort items for children and pets.

We plan to mobilize on Sunday, October 13th, and return on Thursday, October 17th.

In the meantime, the team is in communication with St. James A.M.E. in Asheville, a local church that is keeping us updated on conditions in North Carolina, including road accessibility, electricity, Wi-Fi availability, and the evolving needs of residents. We are also staying informed about FEMA restrictions and are in contact with PA State Senator Dave Argall and PA 9th District Representative Dan Meuser.

How Your Donations Will Be Used:

A variety of additional items will be needed beyond what our local community donates. That’s where the funds from GoFundMe come in. These funds will be used to purchase the following:

Equipment and supplies to construct an outdoor kitchen

All finances will be monitored and recorded by an independent Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and bookkeeper, ensuring accurate records of donations and expenditures. These records will be made available to the public upon the mission's completion.

The funds will be deposited into a bank account opened specifically for this mission by the four founding members (Brandon Kopinetz, Jason Bowers, Jeffrey Dunkel, and Bobby Weaver), and monitored by the bookkeeper mentioned above. The account will be closed upon completion of the project, and any excess funds will be donated to those on the ground who will continue using the centralized pantry, or to another emergency response organization.