KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Hurricane Helene left several East Tennessee and North Carolina communities stranded, stripped of essentials and in desperate need of aid. But in the true spirit of volunteerism, Knoxville pilots have soared into action to help their neighbors.
"It's the volunteer spirit. Your neighbors need you to show up, and we've shown up as best as we could," said Brent Farwick, a local pilot.
Since the storm, local aviators have been collecting donations and flying them directly to areas affected by the floods. The tight-knit pilot community quickly mobilized to meet the urgent need for supplies.
"Our pilot community is really tight, and everybody got the word out about where the need was and how the need was gonna be fulfilled," said Farwick.
Though the pilots' aircraft can only carry small loads—around 250 pounds to 270 pounds at a time—their commitment to the cause is unwavering.
"I can't haul much," said R. Bentley Marlow, another local pilot. "But, I can get there. So I just started collecting donations, throwing them on the plane, and heading over."
As the relief efforts continue, the community support has been overwhelming.
"The community in Knoxville has been there. They've stepped up, gathered, donated, and provided us with tons and tons—literally tons—of goods," said Farwick.
Despite the challenges, the pilots have no plans to stop flying until the need is met.
"Whenever I make a flight and they tell me there's nowhere else to go, that's probably when I'll stop," said Marlow.
More information about ways people can help communities recover from the storm is available online.