This is an update and renewed appeal regarding the College’s efforts to help Helene victims in western North Carolina:
Fayetteville Technical Community College is collecting cleaning products, warm clothing, heaters and propane, pharmaceutical products and other high-need items for students and employees of Blue Ridge Community College. The service area of Blue Ridge CC is one of six areas in western NC most heavily impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
FTCC is teaming with eight other community colleges in eastern North Carolina to help Blue Ridge, which has campuses in Transylvania and Henderson counties in western North Carolina. Blue Ridge has resumed instruction at its campuses and is working to support victims of the hurricane. Many of the College’s students and employees remain in peril due to the catastrophic losses they incurred and need help to move forward with their lives.
“Having grown up in western NC, I’ve heard firsthand from family and friends about the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene,” said Dr. Mark Sorrells, President of Fayetteville Technical Community College. “The news doesn’t fully capture the reality that folks in the west are facing. Our FTCC family has always risen to help when tragedy has struck our campus family and community, and now I’m asking once more for your support to help our colleagues and students in WNC. Blue Ridge Community College’s faculty, staff, and students, along with residents of Henderson and Transylvania counties, have suffered tremendous loss yet are resiliently working to rebuild. Together with other NC community colleges in our region, we can help them recover and renew their communities. I encourage each of you to contribute however you can – your generosity will make a powerful difference in their lives.”
FTCC is joining with Bladen, Brunswick, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Sandhills, Southeastern, and Wayne community colleges to help Blue Ridge. Items already collected at FTCC for Helene victims will be part of the overall donation. Delivery is expected to be in early December.
Below is a list of high-need items that have been requested. Please do not contribute used clothing, shoes or linens; only new items are requested. Blue Ridge notes that it currently has a large stock of canned food items. If you prefer to make a financial gift, it can be done through Blue Ridge’s Foundation at this link: https://www.blueridge.edu/about-blue-ridge/educational-foundation/giving/give-online/
Donations will be accepted weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at FTCC’s Property Control & Services department at 245 Dever St.
Donations from the public are welcome and gratefully accepted.
High-Need Items
- Laundry detergent
- Cleaning products, such as Clorox wipes and spray cleaner
- Trash bags
- Disposable cleaning rags
- Sponges
- Brooms
- Mops
- Dishwasher detergent
- Dishwashing liquid
- New blankets
- New coats
- New socks
- New underclothing
- New thermal underwear
- HotHands heat packs
- Feminine hygiene products
- Band-Aids
- First aid cream
- Propane bottles – small green ones used for camp stoves
- Portable propane heaters, such as “Buddy” heaters by Mr. Heater
- Flashlights and batteries
- Children’s toys (for the coming holidays)
- School supplies – spiral notebooks, pens
- Individually wrapped snacks
