GREENSBORO, N.C. — All across the state, we've seen hurricane relief show up in all forms of transportation; from semi-trucks to helicopters.
One week after Helene hit western North Carolina, there's a homegrown relief effort coming from Greensboro, WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman saw it in action.
Air drops have become the norm in western North Carolina, two young pilots who fly out of Greensboro wanted to pitch in, with the help of the Petty Family Foundation, they've sent thousands of pounds of donations out west.
Pilots flying out of Greensboro could have never imagined what they would see in western North Carolina, "some of my seasoned pilots that have seen actual combat, they're basically saying that sometimes… it's worse… it's like a war zone right now," Aaron Elder said.
Dozens of pilots have stopped by PTI Airport picking up anywhere from 600 to 2,000 pounds per flight. From water bottles to diapers, food and cleaning supplies, pilots based in the Triad and beyond, as well as the Petty Family Foundation, have been rallying together in support of western North Carolina.
"We had people coming with no shoes on, we had people saying that they need food, they need water, they have not received anything for days," Elder said.
Elder is one of two Greensboro pilots who came up with the idea. He and fellow Greensboro pilot Rylee Gaus said they couldn't just stand by.
"This is so unprecedented in our history for sure, especially something to this scale. No one was prepared," Gaus said.
Gaus said when storm videos started hitting social media on Friday, she couldn't stop crying.
"I love being able to have a skill that I can use to help people in a way that I normally couldn't help people," Gaus said.
The Petty Family Foundation has been able to use name recognition to increase donations and assistance.
"Richard petty. I mean, Richard Petty, that's one of the things when you think of North Carolina, you think of NASCAR, you can't not think of the king!" Director of Petty Family Foundation, Shannon Newman said.
Even though these young pilots are just starting out in their aviation careers, they say they've connected with pilots in the area like never before.
"Moving here without any type of connection, any family or friends, this is honestly helped get us acquainted into this vast, generous network of pilots," Elder said.
The group will continue taking donations at PTI Airport Saturday, October 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 1060 PTI Drive.
They're also in need of volunteers to look through donations, and boxes to send those donations in.