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(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A large collection of supplies that Coke Smith and some of his family members will take to North Carolina, where they will provide water and aid to people who have been affected by natural disasters in the area.
With hurricanes ravaging multiple states on the east coast, one local Graham family felt the calling to help.
Tracy and Coke Smith have gathered together supplies and money to support the relief effort. Coke, along with his sons and daughter, will travel to Asheville, North Carolina to spend time providing aid to those in need following the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.
Tracy and Coke's daughter, a first grade teacher in Asheville, North Carolina, shared her firsthand account of the destruction Hurricane Helene had caused around the area where she lived.
The Smiths’ daughter made it out and was able to travel home with her roommate, but her description of the mess left in the wake of the hurricane prompted the Smiths to want to do something to help.
“What these people are going through is just devastating… Our daughter absolutely loved living there and loved the people, and (Coke) just wants to do something humanitarian,” Tracy said. “It’s just God calling him to go do it, so that's what he's going to do.”
Coke got in contact with members of Cajun Navy Relief, a volunteer group that helps provide immediate rescue and relief during natural disasters. Coke explained to the group that he owns a large water trailer and offered to bring that, along with a collection of supplies, money and clean water buckets.
“They’re taking additional water buckets that are clean and new. All the buckets that the people have where they live, everything’s contaminated,” Tracy said. “...(Cajun Navy Relief) gave him a list of everything that they needed or wanted and then they said bring your water truck. People need water, they haven't gotten water in over two weeks.”
For the last few days, the Smiths have been collecting supplies and financial donations from anyone willing to help. They will take two pickup trucks filled with everything they can carry, as well as cash to purchase more supplies once they’ve reached their destination.
The Smiths left Thursday, Oct. 10 and made the roughly 18-hour trip to North Carolina. Anyone interested in contributing funds for gas or with other supplies can reach out to Tracy at 817-683-9055.
“They have a Home Depot and a Lowe's and a Walmart in Asheville, so they have been able to restock the shelves and keep things fairly available,” Tracy said. “So they'll be able to buy supplies when they get there hopefully. But you can only carry so much stuff at one time.”
Tracy said that Coke and their children will likely be in North Carolina for 10 days to two weeks, but that they’re going to keep working until they feel they’ve done everything they can.
“He doesn't really know when he's coming back,” she said. “Just going to stay until he feels like a lot of the needs have been met; he just has a heart for it.”
People in Graham and Young County have already been supportive of the family’s efforts, and Tracy shared her gratitude for what people have done so far.
“It's been very heartwarming to see how many people really do want to help, and it's just... a good feeling to know that you are helping somebody,” she said. “If you want to be happy, help somebody; it feels good.”
