BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. — In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit rallied community support to help students and families recover from the devastating storm.
Within minutes of reaching out to principals, social workers, and counselors across Buncombe County Schools, the unit received urgent requests for assistance. Eight schools initially responded, with additional schools and organizations joining the effort as needs became clear.
Donations poured in from local residents, faith-based organizations, and law enforcement agencies from nearby states. Among the contributors were Pisgah Forest Baptist Church, the Spartanburg Police Department, and countless individuals inspired by a social media post shared by Discover Asheville.
The collaborative effort provided essential items to students at 13 schools, as well as to organizations such as Foster Family Alliance and Black Mountain Home for Children. Donations included 250 winter coats, 200 hats, 140 pairs of gloves, more than 90 pairs of socks, 230 backpacks, and thousands of school supplies, books, and art materials.
“This remarkable partnership between the community and our team ensured students had what they needed to return to school and rebuild a sense of normalcy,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
