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Skook Road Trip Relief group departs Friday to help flood victims in North Carolina

B.Wilson38 min ago

Five original members of the Skook Road Trip Relief effort are planning a return trip, driving to North Carolina Friday to provide warmth with portable propane heaters, water filtration systems and other winter items to hurricane survivors.

Most of the items were specifically requested by residents impacted by the storm's flooding in September.

"The need is still there. These people have a long road ahead of them," said Jeff Dunkel, who was one of the organizers of the local effort to feed and provide other essentials to North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Departure is 9 a.m. from Citizens Fire Company, Palo Alto, with a destination of Buncombe County, North Carolina. They plan to return to Schuylkill County Monday.

Bobby Weaver, Brandon Kopinetz, Dunkel and Jason Bower, all organizers of the relief effort, packed up trucks and drove to the Asheville, N.C., area on Oct. 13 and returned days later. Skook Road Trip Relief raised more than $100,000 in a GoFundMe account which directly helped people in western North Carolina, one of the areas hardest-hit by flooding. About $25,000 of the money from the GoFundMe remains.

In the latest effort, more than 100 portable propane heaters have been donated, along with propane and adapters. Dunkel said he purchased four water filtration systems.

"It's not going to be a huge distribution," Dunkel said.

Weaver, who isn't going on this trip, said they have been told winter attire isn't needed.

The need for potable water is real. He said 20% of homes in Yancy, North Carolina, are still without water and electricity as of last week. Residents have been told it could take six to 12 months to restore.

Future trips to North Carolina are planned for around Thanksgiving and Christmas, organizers said.

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