GREENSBORO, N.C. — When you need help, who do you call? A natural answer would be, a friend, of course. When you're the Petty Family Foundation, you call your Moonshiners friends.
"We knew in October that folks would need help for a very long time, so we called our moonshiner friends to see how they could help," said Shannon Newman, Petty Family Foundation.
And of course, they did! The faces you see on this Zoom call--- are the same faces you watch on TV in the Moonshiners series on Discovery. Sure, they're all about the stills, the moonshine, and the drama but when Hurricane Helene hit it was right in their backyard.
"We've never seen flooding like that all I could do was cry every day and still every day. We're coming out of it and trying to help," said Kelly Williamson, Moonshiners.
Since the hurricane hit, the Moonshiners have partnered with the Petty Family Foundation to get pilots in the air and supplies on the ground.
Mark, Digger, and Kelly have made all kinds of appearances, hosted donation drives, sold flood relief T-shirts, and partnered with pilots and the Pettys to get supplies to the mountains.
"People aren't concerned if you're Democrat or Republican, if you're pretty or ugly if you smell good or smell bad. They're just concerned about helping each other," said Mark Ramsey, Moonshiners.
Just this week, Amanda announced a major fundraising effort for Operation Appalachian Christmas thanks to North Georgia Still Company and the entire moonshine community. Through donations of goods and people buying raffle tickets, $38,808 was raised for Operation Appalachian Christmas.
"It's a really sad circumstance but there is beauty in the resilience and these Appalachian people want to come together and they come together strong," said Amanda Bryant, Moonshiners.
Bryant said they chose the Petty Family Foundation because she says "I know they'll do the right things with the money".
DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO LOAD THE GIFTS
WFMY News 2 is part of Operation Appalachian Christmas. You can donate a new unwrapped toy, gift, or cold-weather comfort item to the warehouse all this week and on Saturday in Greensboro or Randleman:
DROP OFF DETAILS
Items can be dropped off at the Petty Museum. The address is 311 Branson Mill Road, Randleman, NC 27317.
Donations warehouse: 7614 Business Park Drive, Suite G, in Greensboro (Behind Mercy Hill Church).
Greensboro Collection dates are:
Monday – December 9th 9am-5pm
Tuesday – December 10th 9am-5pm
Wednesday – December 11th 9am-5pm
Thursday – December 12th 9am-5pm
Friday - December 13th 9am -5pm
Saturday – December 14th 9am-5pm
If you'd like to volunteer to help with Operation Appalachian Christmas, click here! You'd be sorting/weighing items at the warehouse or driving trucks. For any other volunteer-related questions, email Ryleegaus@gmail.com