Chateau Elan residents rallied together in a remarkable show of support for the victims of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina.

While many were seeking ways to help, it was Lisa Stephens who took charge and set the plan into motion. Residents Doug Townsend and Bayley Hunter, with All South Home Solutions and All South Hauling & Clutter Removal, immediately offered their assistance when Lisa reached out. Leigh Ann Paugh also played a pivotal role, coordinating with resident Shaun O'Keefe (ALDI VP) to purchase bulk items from their warehouse and helping Bayley pack the products into trucks efficiently.

The night before the trucks were set to depart, a dedicated group of volunteers, including the All South crew, the Townsend family, Lisa and Greg Stephens, Leigh Ann Paugh, Jan Varner, Dale Shapiro, and David Weigand, worked tirelessly to load the trucks. The donations from residents, combined with bulk purchases made with the raised funds, filled three trucks with food and supplies. Over $10,000 in funds, food, and supplies were collected.

On Friday, October 4th, the trucks made their way to Asheville, where they offloaded donations at churches and storage facilities managed by the nonprofit organization Beloved Asheville. While the devastation in the area was overwhelming, the volunteers accepting the donations brought light and hope to those affected.

Though lives have been shattered, the efforts to support the community will continue. If you were unable to participate in the initial collection, there are still many ways to help, and no donation is too small!