A retired U.S. Army general joined forces with humanitarian groups to deliver Thanksgiving meals to mountain communities still struggling after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Western North Carolina.
Gen. Dick Cody utilized his private aircraft to transport holiday provisions to isolated areas, continuing his support that began during emergency relief operations following the storm’s initial impact.
The partnership with Samaritan’s Purse focused on reaching families in Yancey County’s Big Creek region, where residents like Felicia Honeycutt faced separation from loved ones during the disaster. Some areas remained cut off from ground transportation for days after the hurricane.
Big Creek Freewill Baptist Church, operating under a temporary tent after flooding destroyed their building, served as the central distribution point. Local deacon Rick Wilson observed the relief flights from his nearby home, praising the coordinated response efforts.
“He was amazing. Some kind of a gentleman there,” Wilson said regarding Gen. Cody’s assistance. “If we hadn’t had [airlifts], it would have been bad.”
The initiative brought complete turkey dinners to families like Veronica Willis, who endured more than a month without power while caring for her husband’s medical needs. The deliveries included traditional side dishes and desserts.
Relief work continues throughout the region as volunteer teams help clear damaged properties. The ongoing recovery efforts showcase how military expertise can enhance humanitarian response during community crises.
This collaborative approach to disaster relief demonstrates the impact of combining military logistics experience with humanitarian organizations to reach isolated mountain communities during their recovery process.
