A senior communication student, Ashley Elliott organized crisis care packages for children in the surrounding Western North Carolina communities after Hurricane Helene’s destruction.
“While collecting supplies for immediate needs like food and water were absolutely crucial,” said Elliott. “I was not seeing direct efforts to help children impacted by this crisis.”
Elliott held a one-day drive and asked for small toys and coloring books to create care packages for children affected by the hurricane.
Donations from college students helped her put together 18 care packages which were designed for different age ranges and were donated to a local church in Waynesville, North Carolina.
However, communication professor, Dr. Mindy Weathers, contacted Elliott and helped organize an additional care package assembly.
“We collected many material donations and over $750 in monetary donations,” said Elliott. “With this, 100 new care packages were put together! They included stuffed animals, games, toys, snacks and socks and were designed with different age ranges in mind!”
We are proud to rally behind our students and their leadership during these unprecedented times.