STATESVILLE, N.C. — “We’ve got a great aviation community with the tools to be able to help a lot of people,” says Matt Aschbrenner.
And that’s exactly what Aschbrenner and volunteers from across the Charlotte area are doing at Statesville Regional Airport – helping people.
Hundreds of volunteers and thousands of pounds of food, water, and supplies have been coming in and out of Statesville Regional Airport since the weekend using cars, trucks, and planes like these to get to places in western North Carolina that need help the most.
Aschbrenner said 43 flights from his Hurricane Helene Airlift Relief team took off on Sunday alone.
“We had just as many cars and trucks that went up into the mountains,” Aschbrenner beams, “We ended up delivering – or getting out of here – eight-and-a-half tons of donated materials.”
It’s personal for him. The outpouring of support for his son, who died of a rare cancer in 2015, inspired him to give back whenever he has the chance.
“None of these people knew my kid, but they all donated and supported his cause,” says Aschbrenner, “Having that community in our region reach out to somebody they didn’t even know – now I feel like I’m hopefully paying it back.”
“It’s what we do,” says Jim Plaster, a pilot bringing relief to the Asheville area on Monday, “It’s what everybody needs to be doing these days – helping each other.”
It’s a sentiment shared by many here in Iredell County.
“To see people just come together selflessly having fun,” says David Maynard. Maynard drove from Mooresville to help load supplies into planes.
“We’re laughing. We’re working hard, and we’re just trying to support our local people,” Maynard adds.
“Us low-liers have not forgotten about you mountain people, and we’re going to keep on bringing stuff,” Aschbrenner says.
“We know where Christmas trees come from, so we’re here to take care of you guys. We’re not done.”
Aschbrenner later told WCCB Charlotte that 101 flights were completed from Statesville Regional Airport on Monday, delivering over 53,000 pounds of relief to places in Western North Carolina hit hardest by Hurricane Helene.
James Scott
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