BOONE, N.C. — One student at Appalachian State University has had a whirlwind experience since Helene hit. Joshua Kubie is in his junior year at the university and interested in a career in law. But right now, he is getting a crash course in helping others while running an entire shelter.
As classes are on pause, Kubie is making his impact felt throughout Boone. With the community still picking up the pieces following Helene.
“I've always been really involved with helping people with emergency services," he told WCNC Charlotte.
Around Boone, Kubie has quickly become key to the area in its time of need as people are still searching for help. When Helene impacted areas like Boone, groups like the American Red Cross faced hurdles connecting with those on the ground. So they relied on Kubie to help with the relief efforts.
“I'd been thrown into the deep end, and realizing that I have people to some to varying degrees, at varying different times, looking to me as someone that they could turn to for help and answers and trying to figure out how I was going to do that when I barely knew it was going on myself," he added.
Kubie directed the entire shelter at App State, assisting dozens of people who arrived after their homes were destroyed by Helene. For him, helping others helps him keep his own situation in perspective.
“I'm a quarter-step away from being in the shelter myself," he said. "My house has nothing right now, it's just like a structure.”
“It's definitely made me think about my career path and about the type of law I want to specialize in and the type of organizations that I want to work in, that can give me the same feeling I have right now of knowing that I'm making the world around me a better place,” he added.
Kubie has started shelter drives in the Charlotte area to take supplies to Boone and other parts of western North Carolina as well.
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.