Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Oct. 9, 2024 – Local contractor David Inman will be heading to Burnsville, North Carolina, on Thursday morning as he leads a team to help with relief efforts after the recent hurricane that hit the area.

Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction and fatalities across the Southeastern United States in late September.

According to the Weather Channel, at least 236 deaths were connected to Hurricane Helene and its aftermath with, widespread power outages still remaining in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Searches are ongoing in North Carolina as hundreds are still unaccounted for.

As a former minister and member of the Southwest Church of Christ, Inman said he couldn’t just sit around, he had to get out there and help.

In addition, Inman owns and operates Inman Home Inspections and Inman Building and Construction, so he knows about construction and plans to help out wherever possible during his brief stay. He said the trip consists of him and some other men from Hoxie Church of Christ, all of whom will be taking supplies. The Hoxie Christ Church crew will also help clear debris from homes.

“Some will just stay a few days, but I’m planning to stay over a week, maybe two weeks, if others want to meet me there later, they are welcome to come,” Inman said.

They will be leaving Thursday morning to begin working with the Samaritan’s Purse Organization in Burnsville, Yancey County, for a few days before heading to other communities to the east.

“Samaritan’s Purse moved in the middle of last week and has started taking volunteers as of [Monday],” he explained. “Although Burnsville is not as hard to hit as Asheville, a lot of the city does sit in the low-lying river creek bed areas and hundreds of people have lost everything. Roads are completely destroyed and, because it’s more remote, there are less volunteers that have gone in that direction, so that’s where we have decided to go.”

He also added that they will not be taking a lot of bulky donation items due to limited space, and they will be having to camp as they have to provide their own lodging and food. However, he said if people are willing to donate generators, he will bring those.

“We are not taking food and water because we just don’t have the room and because Samaritan’s Purse and other groups like the Red Cross will have that covered, but we give them Walmart gift cards and monetary donations that they can use for clothes and other specific things they need, such as generators,” Inman said.

He also noted that some of the members of the Southwest Church of Christ was funding his trip as far as his gas and food, so all donations will be handed out to the families in need that he come in contact with directly.

“That way people know exactly where their money is going,” he continued. “These organizations do wonderful things, but they have costs that they have to cover as well, such as payroll and gas. This will go directly to the families.”

To join him over the next couple weeks or donate in the next few days, call or text Inman at 870-926-5811. You can also find updates on Inman’s Facebook page.