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More help is on the way to western North Carolina. The Triangle community continues to answer the call by donating much-needed items like food, water and personal hygiene products.

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- More help is on the way to western Carolina in the wake of the destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene. The Triangle community continues to answer the call by donating much-needed items like food, water, and personal hygiene products.

The sound of compassion can be heard echoing loudly through the No Woman No Girl Initiative office. The Raleigh-based nonprofit started collecting items Thursday once it realized the storm was heading to Asheville.

"If a woman is menstruating, we're making sure she has access to period products as well as other things," said founder Shirnetta Harrell. "This is crucial right now. I'm from Nash County. There was an impact in my hometown of Rocky Mount with tornadoes. We're just seeing an opportunity for our mission to get involved."

This is crucial right nowShirnetta Harrell, No Woman No Girl

Many people are getting involved by rolling up their sleeves to help out. It's an all-hands-on-deck effort to make thousands of sandwiches to send to Boone, North Carolina. Rocky Top Catering has partnered with World Central Kitchen and Overflowing Hands to make six thousand sandwiches.

"Sandwiches are quick and easy," said Dean Ogan with Rocky Top Catering.

"The sandwiches we make have a lot of protein, a lot of fat and a lot of mayo. It's a lot of nourishment that people who haven't had a good meal can get right off the bat."

It's become a call to action that many communities are answering. In Morrisville at the Hindu Society of North Carolina, volunteers like Max Ganorkar are hard at work.

"I grew up in India. Every time there was a natural disaster Americans were always first to open their hearts and wallets," said Ganorkar. "This gives us an opportunity to reach out to them."

This interfaith effort was organized Monday afternoon. They gathered mostly water and some food to send to Marion and Burnsville

"By this morning we had two trailers full and ready to go to the mountains," he said. "When they need us we are here for them."

Businesses organize donation drives for Western NC

People have nothing.Lee Gardener, Lee's 24 Hr. Towing

Monday ABC11 talked to business owners across the Triangle and Sandhills who are rallying around their neighbors in western North Carolina by organizing donation drives.

Many were impacted by Hurricane Helene's catastrophic storm. It's left them without food, clothes, or homes. Times like this show the heart of the community.

"It just hit us. We've got trucks sitting around. We've got people. We've got to do something," said Lee Gardener, owner of Lee's 24-Hr Towing.

"You've got entire towns gone. People have nothing."

Durhamites filled three semi-trucks with donations to get them on the road to the mountains as soon as possible. Gemini Janas dropped off items to the Durham Rescue Mission's effort as she thought of the many college students affected.

"Gosh, those students that are there and the parents wanting to get to their kids definitely pulled on my heartstrings a lot," she said.

At Durham's food truck park, the Can Opener, several businesses have partnered with them to collect food and make a difference.

"Right now, it's a mad dash of anything we can get our hands on that's not perishable," said Trevor Hayes, owner of Hometown Martial Arts Raleigh. "It's a civic duty. If you live here and have a neighbor in trouble, you go help them. Plain and simple."

Donations started coming in at the businesses early Monday morning. They expect to have a weekly pickup for the next month or two. They are even raffling off an incentive to one lucky donor.

"We're going to give free coffee away for a full year 365 days," said Charlie Ji, owner of the Can Opener.

RELATED | How to help those affected by Helene: volunteering, donations and other resources

Down in the sandhills at Elite Aircraft Services, relief efforts continue. Plans are underway to fly all donations they receive to Western Carolina. They can't take water because of its weight.

"A private owner volunteered his aircraft to go," said Marcie Walsh with Elite Aircraft Services. "There's so many small towns that need help like Swannanoa, Bat Cave, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock. All those places need our help."

This mission is personal for Walsh because she's a 2011 graduate of Appalachian State University.

"A lot of the people affected are friends, colleagues and mentors. I have one friend that lost everything except for the clothes on her back," she said.

Donations can be taken directly to Raleigh Executive Jetport on 700 Rod Sullivan Road in Sanford, North Carolina.

They will be allocated to non-profit organizations Operation Airdrop and Carolina Aviators Network (CAN). Drop-off hours will run from 8 am - 6 pm daily.

The Raleigh Executive Jetport is also hosting a "Pack-a-Plane "event on Saturday, Oct 5th, 10 am-3 pm.

People can bring the donations to Family Day, and load them on the airplane. They will be able to watch the planes take off to Western NC.

SEE ALSO | VIDEO: Scenes of Helene's deadly wrath from western to central North Carolina

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PLEASE NOTE: Vehicles will not be permitted access to Whitford Drive for donation drop off after 3 p.m. on Oct. 4. Courtesy carts/shuttles are available from Science Drive Garage and Science Drive Visitors Lot locations to assist with pedestrian transportation as needed. DURHAM, N.C. – In an effort to bring relief to those impacted by recent flooding and hardships as a result of Hurricane Helene, Duke Athletics will collect items that will be sent to flood victims. The Blue Devils are partnering with Two Men and a Truck to help those in need.

Starting Monday, Sept. 30, through Friday, Oct. 11, donations will be accepted at the Duke Athletics Ticket Office in Scott Family Athletics Performance Center (110 Whitford Drive) during regular business hours (8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday)

In addition, Two Men and a Truck will be on site for Countdown to Craziness on Friday, Oct. 4, located in Tribull Plaza to collect items directly in their truck. Please note that vehicles will not be permitted to access Whitford Drive for drop off after 3:00 p.m. on Oct. 4.

As an extra incentive, along with the goodwill of helping those in need, for every five items donated from the list below, fans can purchase one ticket to either of the following packages: $25 for one east reserved football ticket versus Virginia Tech (Nov. 23) and one reserved women's basketball ticket against Belmont (Nov. 21); or $45 for one general admission (standing room only) men's basketball ticket versus Seattle (Nov. 29) and one general admission women's basketball ticket against Belmont (Nov. 21).

Two Men and a Truck will also be on site at the Florida State football game on Friday, Oct. 18, for an additional donation opportunity at their location on Morton Plaza (no ticket incentive at this event).

Items in need from the community include the following: non-perishable food, bottled water, contractor-size trash bags, blankets, first aid supplies, feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby clothes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, paper towels, bleach, shovels, brooms, gloves, coolers, flashlights, batteries and fans.

Fans who would like to donate, but are unable to do so in person, may place an order through this Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/33BMB9HZLM17F When checking out, select Duke Athletics Ticket Office Hurricane Relief as the shipping destination. Please note that the football and basketball ticket offers are not available with Amazon orders.

We thank you in advance for your generous donations.

#GoDuke

A Category 4 storm, Hurricane Helene, one of the largest storms to hit the Gulf Coast in a century, collided into the Big Bend area of Northern Florida on Thursday, before moving into neighboring states of Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and the Carolinas. According to media reports, upwards of 60 people have already been confirmed dead, although the death toll is expected to rise as many municipalities have yet to release official numbers as cell phone service and internet remains down and millions are currently without power. Extreme flooding has been reported in Atlanta, GA and Asheville, NC, as whole communities are left stranded and lacking proper shelter and access to clean drinking water.

As Truthout reported, “While hurricanes are no stranger to the Gulf Coast, climate change has intensified their destructive impacts, and Hurricane Helene is the just the latest case of the extreme weather events that are rising in their frequency and ferocity.” Compounding this crisis is the fact that many people on the Gulf coast lack “flood insurance, because repeated strikes by powerful hurricanes have driven up insurance rates to unaffordable levels.”

As someone from Triangle Mutual Aid reported, “The geographic scale of this disaster is beyond anything most of us have dealt with before. It’s most similar to hurricane Katrina in my experience, though over much different terrain and with people completely unprepared for it.” A recent post from Firestorm anarchist community center in Asheville, NC commented, “Our community is experiencing an ongoing crisis created by infrastructural collapse and the profound failure of capitalism to value and sustain life. No state or federal aid has yet reached Asheville, but all around us we’re seeing regular people acting autonomously to address immediate needs and meet one another with care.”

What follows is a collection of autonomous mutual aid groups and disaster relief resources that are being mobilized in the southeast in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Please consider boosting and donating to these groups and organizing support for supply chains to impacted areas.

General Mutual Aid Disaster Relief Fund

There is a wide network of mutual aid groups responding on the ground to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, but a huge hub for these efforts is Mutual Aid Disaster Relief (MADR). Check out their Instagram account for updates. They write:

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief is actively responding to the impacts of Hurricane Helene from Florida to the Carolinas. Supplies and financial support are needed. Several supply hubs are forming to connect the MADR Supply Line. Locations and drop times are coming soon. If you can donate directly, ALL funds go to on the ground response and recovery efforts.

We will continue to update our socials with information we receive from allies on the ground. If you would like to help, your time is priceless. Drivers, medics, kitchen crews, #foodnotbombs, muck and gut work, roofing, electricians, solar installers, chainsaw crews, clearing debris…All needed. Emails us at mutualaiddisasterrelief@gmail.com to plug in!

Donate to Mutual Aid Disaster Relief here:

Florida

Food Not Bombs Tallahassee is organizing in support of impacted communities in Taylor County. To help with these efforts, please donate at:

To donate for mutual aid efforts in Perry, FL:

Food Not Bombs St. Petersburg is helping to organize autonomous disaster relief efforts and a supply hub at the Gulfport Senior Center.

In Gainesville, FL, Food Not Bombs is providing free meals and disaster relief supplies.

Streets of Paradise in Sarasota is also organizing relief efforts.

North Carolina

Buncombe County and surrounding counties are currently experiencing widespread flooding. Funds are being collected to support community members affected by immediate and long term damage. Donate to Appalachian Medical Solidarity here:

In Asheville, NC, the anarchist social center Firestorm is currently reporting:

Our co-op is physically intact and our members are accounted for. Although we’ve fared better than many, we’re experiencing this crisis physically and emotionally. We’re exhausted, largely without power, water, or internet. Cell service is poor, and when we are able to connect, the volume of information is overwhelming. Right now our priority is supporting and facilitating mutual aid efforts and we ask for your patience as we cannot keep up with emails, texts, and DMs.

Firestorm will continue to act as an in-person resource and information hub over the coming days, with staffing from noon to 4pm. A daily meeting at 2pm serves as a space for neighbors to get verified updates and coordinate mutual aid efforts. Other hubs have arisen organically in other parts of town and we’re doing our best to share and connect resources.

Check out more updates Firestorm here.

across North Carolina:

Carrboro, NC: Back Alley Bikes 100 Boyd St, Carrboro, NC 27510 Open Tues-Sat 11am – 6pm

Raleigh, NC: RUMAH 415 Hillsborough St Raleigh 27603 Drop Off During Events, See Calendar on website Raleighmutualaid.info

Durham, NC: Art post 718 Iredell St, Durham, NC 27705 Accepting drops starting Monday Sept 30 Monday – Saturday 12 – 6

Durham, NC: The Scrap Exchange 2050 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707 10:30am – 6pm Tue – Sun.

Durham, NC: Maverick’s Smokehouse and Taproom 900 W Main Street Durham NC normal business hours.

Durham, NC: Fuzzy Needle 1005 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701 Thurs/Fr/Sat/Sun 11-4

Greensboro, NC: 241 Summit Avenue 11am – 1pm Tuesday-Friday

In Marshall, NC, Holler Hard Reduction is organizing a supply drive.

Charlotte Food Not Bombs is currently organizing disaster relief efforts. You can support them here:

Greensboro Mutual Aid is posting information on how people can plug into mutual aid efforts there.

Follow Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub here for more info on mutual aid efforts.

The Pansy Collective in Western North Carolina is asking for donations to distribute in impacted communities.

Triangle Mutual Aid also has a Patreon you can support and is also posted updates on autonomous disaster relief efforts in response to Hurricane Helene.

South Carolina

Food Not Bombs Charleston is organizing supply runs.

Upstate Food Not Bombs are also currently organizing relief efforts. Donate to them here:

Kentucky

Support and donate to East Kentucky Mutual Aid here:

Tennessee

Support and donate to Tri-Cities Mutual Aid and Solidarity Network.

In Knoxville, TN, support and donate to the First Aid Collective.

Virginia

Support and donate to Tri-Cities Mutual Aid and Solidarity Network.

State Line Abortion Access Partners are also organizing supplies.

Linking Up in Solidarity

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — The Durham Rescue Mission is gathering donations from the Triangle community to help those in need in western North Carolina impacted by flooding after Helene.

The supply drive began Sunday and will last through Monday before volunteers take the supplies west on Tuesday.

The organization is specifically asking for “toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine products, bottled water, soda pop, tanned canned food, shelf-stable food, baby wipes, and diapers.”

“We brought a lot of water, diapers, some deodorant, toiletries, things like that we heard were going to be helpful,” Todd Christy told CBS17 while dropping off donations.

In the wake of flooding from Helene, the American Red Cross says it has around 2,000 people deployed from Florida to Tennessee, between 200 and 300 of which are in North Carolina.

Mike DeCinti from the American Red Cross told CBS 17 that relief efforts have been difficult because of the destruction in the area.

“There are still over 400 roads closed where we cannot get to folks and folks can’t get to us. But for those people that have been in our shelters, we are making sure that they are safe, they are clean, they are dry, and they are fed to the best of our abilities,” DeCinti said.

Ernie Mills Jr., Durham Rescue Mission’s vice president of development, told CBS 17 that the support he’s seeing from the community is overwhelming.

“You know I thought we were going to need a trailer, but we’re gonna need a whole box truck,” Mills said.

Mills said the plan, for now, is to leave Tuesday to deliver supplies, but that could change depending on the situation. But, he said no matter what, they’re committed to getting the aid to those who need it.

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross said they need money more than supplies, because it can be difficult to transport.

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Delaney McQuaig, a regular band member of the house band for Brett's Open Mic, playing his Fender Stratocaster at the Blue Note Grill in Durham, NC.

Matt Ramey / for WUNC

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The HIllside class of 1974 celebrate their 50th reunion at the Blue Note Grill in Durham, NC. They are regular attendees of Brett's Open Mic.

Matt Ramey / for WUNC

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Patrons of the Blue Note Grill in Durham, NC eat dinner before Brett's Open Mic.

Matt Ramey / for WUNC

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Acisse Jay plays guitar and sings during Brett's Open Mic at the Blue Note Grill in Durham, NC.

Matt Ramey / For WUNC

A keyboard player sustaining a church-like chord underneath him, guitarist Delaney McQuaig tenderly plucked a sultry, bluesy string of notes.

Then, McQuaig asked the crowd on this Wednesday night in Durham whether they know anything about Al Green, the famed soul singer.

When the crowd failed to respond with sufficient attention and enthusiasm, McQauig said: "Now, I know I ain't talking to myself."

The crowd now perked up a bit, McQauig asked again: "Y'all know anything about Al Green??"

With the cadence of a preacher, McQauig informed the increasingly rapt audience that Green wrote songs that "made people have babies." And with that, he and the rest of the backing band launched into Green's "Love and Happiness" warming up the primed crowd for another installment of Brett Chambers' Open Mic at the Blue Note Grill.

Going to the open mic is 'like being around family'

On this particular Wednesday, the event was marking its 28th Anniversary, which fortuitously coincided with one of its "third Wednesday" theme nights.

This Wednesday's theme was "represent your school," which explained the ubiquity of t-shirts and hats bearing the colors and logos of institutions like N.C. Central University, East Carolina, Duke, UNC, and even Hillside High School. A large contingent of Hillside alumni, Class of '74—wearing t-shirts marking this year's 50th anniversary of their graduation—included regulars who come to the open mic just about every week.

"When you come to Brett's Open Mic, it's like being around family," said Kenneth Chavious, who was wearing the blue and white of his alma mater, Fayetteville State University.

Chavious, 71, has been attending the open mic since its start 28 years ago at a place called Talk of the Town, a bar on Main Street, in Durham, long before the city's downtown revitalization.

Since then, it has migrated from Talk of the Town to an assortment of venues before resettling at the Blue Note in 2019.

But the warmth of the crowd at the open mic, and the quality of the music, have been constants, according to Chavious and many other attendees.

"It's really, really good clean fun, it always has been," said Chavious, before digging into a plate of the Blue Note's fine food, which includes ribs and barbecue. "And it's some of the best talent you will ever see."

The talent is 'ridiculous'

"The open mic has created a sense of community with people from all walks of life," said Constance Prince, who discovered the event back in 2016, when it resided at Durham's Beyu Caffe.

After a 21-year career in finance at Morgan Stanley, Prince, 73, said she was looking for a place to get back to singing, a lifelong love of hers.

"From directing choirs at church to singing around with different small groups and that sort of thing," said Prince, sporting a maroon college t-shirt from NCCU, the historically Black university from which she graduated in 1981.

Prince performs frequently at the open mic—and when she does, she commands the audience.

On this night, with her crown of gray curls and big glasses, Prince raised the roof with her rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Something He Can Feel."

"Hey," she sang with a soulful rasp, "feel me, baby."

"The talent here is ridiculous," said Robert Zoldos II, Durham's Fire Chief, a regular at the open mic since 2018. Zoldos often can be seen among the throng of people in front of the stage expertly doing what one participant told me is a "Black line dance."

Zoldos said that when he first moved to town in 2018, his wife had to stay behind in northern Virginia for her teaching job. So, he went looking for date-night opportunities for when she came to town and that is when he discovered the open mic.

Zoldos said he got hooked on the dancing and the friendly vibe at the open mic.

"There's enough regulars," he said, likening the scene at the open mic to the setting of a popular sitcom set in a Boston bar. "You know everyone, it's sort of that 'Cheers' atmosphere."

"It's like Saturday night on Wednesdays, and it's perfect," said Blue Note Owner Bill Whittington, who seemed quite pleased overlooking a packed room midweek with customers who pay a $5 cover.

But by "perfect," it was clear to me he was referring to the communal joy pervading the room.

"It's just one big family get-together every week, it seems," Whittington said.

Among the talented performers to hit the stage was Acisse Jay, 37, a clinical research associate by day.

Wearing a gray t-shirt accented with the purple and gold of East Carolina University, Jay proudly identified herself as an ECU Pirate. Jay said she first found the open mic in 2018 and became a regular after the pandemic.

"Just getting out playing music and dancing, that's what I'm here for," Jay said.

On stage, a guitar strapped around her shoulders, Jay delivered a rousing rendition of Proud Mary a la Tina Turner, barreling into the chorus: "Big wheel keep on turnin', Proud Mary keep on burnin', Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river."

'I was nervous, but it was cool'

The night's performers included newcomer Joanne Osewe, 23, who told me her stage name is Pynk Moscato. Osewe came to the open mic from neighboring Wake County.

"Honestly," she said, with a saxophone playing The Spinners' "I'll Be Around" in the background, "it's definitely an older crowd." But Osewe definitely did not mean that as a dig.

"It's classic," she added. "It's beautiful, I love it. I mean, I love it."

For the two songs she performed, Osewe did "Just Friends," by Musiq Soulchild, and Etta James's "I'd Rather Go Blind."

After her debut onstage, Osewe told me she would definitely be back.

"I was inspired, I was nervous, but it was cool, like it was cool," she said.

That kind of response to the open mic experience has got to be music to the ears of the event's namesake and creator.

When Brett Chambers started the open mic 28 years ago, he told me, he was looking for a musical outlet for himself and to create a safe space for others.

"I just wanted a platform where people could come and not be booed offstage and have a chance to grow and have the courage to step up to a mic, because that's daunting" he said.

At 28 years old and counting, Brett Chambers' Open Mic is thriving with newbies and veterans gamely stepping up to the mic and audiences warmly cheering them on.