COWETA COUNTY, Ga. – A local business in Georgia is stepping up to support a North Carolina Christmas tree grower whose livelihood was threatened by Hurricane Helene. The storm devastated crops in western North Carolina, leaving farmers with limited options to bring their trees to market in time for the holiday season.

Tommy and Meg Morgan, owners of Morgan’s Market in Newnan, have been making a difference since the hurricane struck. Morgan’s Market, known for selling North Carolina Christmas trees annually, is part of Coweta Greenhouses, a major plant distributor in Georgia.

Meg Morgan says she saw a social media post from the grower about the damage caused by the hurricane. “And I met up with a friend up there, and it turned into a collaborative idea and started a nonprofit,” she said.

Morgan’s Market purchased a trailer load of trees from the affected grower and transported them to Coweta County. In a move to further support the farmer, the Morgans decided not only to sell the trees locally but also to send all the proceeds back to the grower. “And they said, ‘Yeah, come and get them.’ So, we had an empty trailer to haul back. We took our trailer up there. They loaded it down,” said Tomy Morgan.

“So, when we brought these in, and we unwrapped them, they were all still covered in dirt and sand from the river,” said Meg Morgan.

This effort is just one facet of the Morgans’ commitment to agricultural relief. Meg Morgan, whose background is in horse farming, has founded a charity called M.I.R.A.C.L.E. Ag Relief to assist farmers impacted by disasters. The charity reflects the couple’s dedication to helping those in need within the agricultural community.

While Morgan’s Market’s regular North Carolina supplier was unaffected by the hurricane, the addition of the hurricane-damaged trees has provided customers with a chance to contribute to a meaningful cause during the holiday season.

“They’re looking at losing the farm because it’s not… I think they’re… and a lot of the tree farms as well. It’s the damage to the land, not just the trees that are there, it’s the pollution, the soil. At this point, it’s being able to get things cleaned up to replant at this point,” said Meg Morgan, adding that it could take a decade for the farmers to recover.

Thanks to the Morgans’ initiative, the North Carolina growers can salvage part of their season despite the devastating storm.

“And we sold just about every one of them that they brought back,” said Tommy Morgan.

And for customers in Newnan, each tree purchased carries a story of resilience and generosity.