BALTIMORE — Businesses in Baltimore and Harford County are doing everything they can to help out victims of Hurricane Helene and Milton even from hundreds of miles away. 

More than a million Floridians are without power as they continue to clean up debris left behind by Hurricane Milton. Meanwhile, people in parts of North Carolina are still grappling with entire neighborhoods being decimated by Hurricane Helene.   

Things we sometimes take for granted such as clean drinking water, blankets, pantry items, and lights are things people in Western North Carolina never expected to lose when floodwaters from Hurricane Helene ravaged their communities. 

“The area of North Carolina, they didn’t evacuate, there was no plan in place for a hurricane…so the need there is probably going to be there for a long time, and we don’t want to forget about these people,” Erin Schlichting, Co-owner of Clean Cuisine said. 

Last week, the owners of Clean Cuisine in Owings Mills coordinated with Gourmet Girls in Pikesville to collect survival items for hurricane victims in North Carolina. 

They said as soon as they posted the flier, donations started stacking up. 

“People brought in generators and clothing and it’s just amazing,” Gerry Schlichting, Owner of Clean Cuisine said. “Pet food and diapers and car seats,” Erin said.  

Gerry informed WJZ that the restaurant already has enough to fill up a truck to send down to North Carolina this week. 

“They’re actually loading up a truck on Monday to take it down and then they’re coming back on Tuesday or Wednesday to load up another one,” he said. 

In Abingdon, Box Hill Pizzeria will start collecting essential items to fill their large box truck on Monday. The truck will go down to Florida, bringing much-needed supplies to families impacted by Hurricane Milton. 

“Just because it’s not a local community that needs help, it’s an extended community and I just wanted to be there to help people,” Nico Kanaras, a partner of Box Hill Pizzeria said. 

Box Hill is also donating 10% of sales to hurricane relief efforts. 

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina wide receiver Tylee Craft died Saturday morning following a lengthy battle with cancer, the school announced.

Craft, 23, of Sumter, South Carolina, was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer on March 14, 2022. The UNC community had rallied behind him with the #TyleeStrong hashtag since his diagnosis. He had undergone numerous treatments, but the cancer spread through his body and brain. Still, he had enrolled in graduate courses toward his master’s degree in applied professional studies and graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science/sports administration.

UNC honored Craft during Saturday’s football game against Georgia Tech. It also happened to be the team’s annual Cancer Awareness Game. Friends and family members wearing shirts bearing Craft’s name and number were recognized during an on-field ceremony.

Wide receiver J.J. Jones wore Craft’s jersey with his No. 13 and last name during the game. Additionally, the UNC men’s basketball team wore shirts bearing Craft’s name and number for its intrasquad scrimmage at the Smith Center following the football game and had a pre-scrimmage moment of silence in Craft’s honor.

“This young man fought so hard for his two and a half years,” UNC coach Mack Brown said. “The doctors told us he outlived what he should’ve. And he did it with the spirit, he did it with a smile on his face, he didn’t miss a meeting, he didn’t miss practice, he coached these other incredible young people.”

Brown told reporters he didn’t learn of Craft’s death until after the game but sensed something had happened after sharing an emotional hug with Craft’s mother at the end of the first quarter.

“I think the family feels the love and they’ll continue to feel the love,” Brown said. “What we’ve got to do is be strong, and pray for strength for us as leaders, to help these guys on the field and off the field. … So more than ever before I have got to step up and be stronger for them and make sure that I can help them manage the stuff and move forward in their lives.”

Craft had been struggling with debilitating back pain, so UNC’s athletic training staff took him to the hospital in 2022 for more testing to determine the cause of it. That’s when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. He immediately began an aggressive treatment of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

According to UNC, when Craft was diagnosed, his family said doctors told them he was just weeks away from dying.

In 2022, Craft was recognized with the Disney Spirit Award, presented annually to college football’s most inspirational individual or team. He was also one of five college athletes named to the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team that year.

“Tylee meant so much to so many and affected us in ways we’ll always be thankful for,” the football program’s statement said. “He was 1-of-1 and, while he won’t be with us in body, he’ll be watching over us with his endearing smile and endless positivity.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — It’s that time of year again when the NC State Fair comes to town.

Fairgoers and visitors will find new entertainment, alongside popular returning acts, and two new amusement rides in 2024. There will also be 72 new food options that visitors can try.

Tickets are available now. The state fair will run from October 17 through 27.

WATCH | Thousands attended final Saturday at the North Carolina State Fair: ‘It’s crowded’

Transportation & Parking

Free parking is available at the State Fair and Carter-Finley Football Stadium, as well as Lenovo Center for most days.

There is also free off-site parking at the Dogwood Lot (4501 Reedy Creek Road) and Cardinal Lot (5766 Chapel Hill Road). These will run Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. until one hour after gates close, and Oct. 18 – 27 from 9 a.m. until one hour after gates close.

Free shuttles, which will run continuously, are available near these lots:

• Cardinal Lot: drop-off/pick-up at the new Gate 7 off Youth Center Drive
• Dogwood Lot: drop-off/pick-up across Trinity Road at Gate 8

Neighboring residents also frequently covert parts of their property into small parking lots. This is not controlled by the fair.

AMTRAK will also operate a special train stop right in front of Gate 1 at the fair.

Full information about parking, park and ride locations, and hours can be found here.

Clear Bag Policy

The state fair clear bag policy will continue to be in place this year.

Those who have a clear bag will go through security much quicker. Any size or type of clear bag is acceptable. If you don’t have a clear bag, you will go through the bag search line.

Outside food and drink, water bottles, diaper bags with baby/toddler supplies and medications are allowed. Alcoholic beverages, drugs, firearms, knives, brass knuckles, batons and/or weapons of any type are not allowed.

Special Event Days

Wolfpack Day – Oct. 17
Current students at NC State get $8 admission by showing their student ID card at the gate.

Accessibility Day – Oct. 20
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., this is what you can expect:

Rides and games will operate with no lights or music playing, as well as vendors at their booths. Music will only play acoustic sets with light amplification.

The public address system will only be used for lost visitor announcements.

Senior Citizens’ Day – Oct. 22
People ages 65 and older get free admission to the fair.

Starting at 9 a.m., Bojangles’ biscuits and coffee will be served on the Dorton Patio near the Waterfall at the Senior Fun Fest. After that, there will be a program with Commissioner Steve Troxler and music at 10 a.m.

Military Appreciation Day – Oct. 23

The state fair will pay tribute to members of the U.S. Military. There will be a parade at 10 a.m., starting in the carnival midway. It will then go through Kiddieland, past the Scott Building and back to the midway.

Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day – Oct. 24

Bring six cans of food to the fair gates and get into the NC State Fair for free!

Hunger Relief Day dates back to 1993 at the fair. Since then, according to their website, fairgoers have donated 6 million pounds of food to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and its partners.

It has become one of the largest one-day canned food drives in the state.

For more information on special event days, visit the NC State Fair website.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The featured video is from a previous report.