CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The demands for basic necessities are growing by the minute. Many stores are having trouble keeping up, whether it’s the aftermath from Helene or the current port workers' strike. Meanwhile, many Charlotte neighbors are heading to the store to grab groceries. Some are surprised with how the shelves look.
Sara Stajos shopped at a Charlotte Harris Teeter location.
"I came to get water and basically there was very little water left on the shelves," she said.
Some supplies including water, paper towels and wipes are growing thin, causing some shoppers to think twice.
“That big picture kind of thinking that's making people come back and go, 'Okay, I better get as much stuff as I need,'” said Christina Armstrong, who recently moved to Charlotte and was making her own rounds.
The need weighs heavier for those that experienced Helene first hand. Steve DiGiovanni and his family have been staying in a hotel in Charlotte to escape Helene and it's impact in Ashville. When talking about his first time going shopping since Helene, he said, “everything's definitely different.”
His wife Carrie DiGiovanni praised the neighbors who have stepped up to help.
“That's the the beautiful part about it is our community," she said, "everyone is getting together and helping each other out, and that's obviously the best part."
While the DiGiovanni family and others gather as many supplies as needed, their plan is to fill others in need with hope.
“One day at a time," Steve DiGiovanni said. "That's all we can do and be hopeful and have more strength through the community."
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.