North Carolina
Fairfield residents turn RV's into homes for North Carolina Helene victims
FAIRFIELD, Va. (WDBJ) – It’s been over a month since Hurricane Helene and communities in North Carolina are still working to recover.
But here in our hometowns, people are still stepping up to lend a hand, and those in Fairfield are lending a home.
A group in Fairfield is packing campers full of everything a family might need to become the new home for those who lost everything in Hurricane Helene.
Home has always been where you have a roof over your head and a bed to sleep in. But in Lake Lure, N.C., that no longer exists for many residents.
Bonnie Wilmer has seen it herself.
“I believe Lake Lure alone had 60 families that’s in tents,” said Wilmer. “They don’t have anything right now except sleeping bag in the ground.”
So she and a few friends are creating homes and sending them down to those people.
“[My friend] said she was going to purchase campers and some of them would need to be cleaned, I said bring them to my house, my friends will come help,” said Wilmer.
For the past week, people have been donating campers to Wilmer. Someone came all the way from Ohio to drop one off.
She and her crew clean them up and pack them with the basic necessities that have also been donated and other items to make it feel like a home.
“They have a new grill here, charcoal grill, new toaster, new dishes, new brooms, mops, new sheets for their bed, new bed pillows, and all the toiletries and anything that they would need [and] stocked it with some food,” said Wilmer, walking through the camper.
So far, three campers have been sent down to Lake Lure.
“They’re very, very grateful,” said Wilmer, recalling the reaction of the North Carolina residents. “I know they said one little girl was so excited to have a home. And these people are in tents, and it’s getting a little too cold for that.”
And two more families will have homes delivered Friday.
“We’ll just keep on going, as long as we continue to get money to pay for them,” said Wilmer.
Wilmer said she and her group are always accepting donations. They are collecting everything from food to hygiene products, mattresses and clothing. Monetary donations will go toward buying more campers to fill.
The best way to help out is through Wilmer’s Facebook. You can find her page here.
Copyright 2024 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
Follow
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Fire crews are responding to a brush fire near Howard Gap Road in Hendersonville on Friday evening.
The fire is across the street from the Ebenezer Baptist Church and near the Highlands Square Shopping Center.
Henderson County Fire Marshal Glen Gillette said crews are fighting “blowdown from Helene.”
NEW WILDFIRES IGNITE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FOREST AMID WORSENING DROUGHT
Around 11 p.m., the fire appears larger than it did an hour ago because crews are backburning, which refers to using fire to help control the wildfire.
Dana Fire Department Chief Jimmy Womack said that what was a 3-acre fire an hour ago will be an 8-acre fire due to back burning. He said the fire is 80% contained.
Womack said the cause of the fire is unknown, but one of the conditions contributing to the blaze is the Helene blowdown.
“There’s a lot of blowdown in these woods behind us. That’s what creates most of the problem,” said Womack.
Womack said there has been no property damage and no injuries have been reported for this fire in the woods that 24 personnel are fighting. They got the call to arrive at 6:05 p.m.
LOCAL NEWS
Dana Fire and Rescue and Henderson County Fire Department are supporting the U.S. Forest Service with this fire.
Glen said no structures are threatened at this time and Howard Gap Road is closed.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (1)
This story will be updated as new information is discovered.
-
Atlanta, GA6 minutes agoNew York hosts Atlanta with 1-0 series lead
-
Minneapolis, MN12 minutes agoFatal Minneapolis crash sentencing: Teniki Steward sentenced to more than 12 years
-
Indianapolis, IN18 minutes agoPirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win
-
Pittsburg, PA24 minutes agoMcCorkle: Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 Mock Draft (Final Version)
-
Augusta, GA30 minutes agoAugusta nonprofit hosts family financial literacy day
-
Washington, D.C36 minutes agoStorm Team4 Forecast: A chilly, gusty Sunday before a cool start to the week
-
Cleveland, OH42 minutes agoWinners and Losers From Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Playoffs Game 1
-
Austin, TX48 minutes agoStorms dump small hail throughout Austin area Saturday