Here's how NC State football's Hurricane Helene supply drive came together

By Louis Fernandez, WRAL Sports

Raleigh, N.C. — After the NC State Wolfpack beat Northern Illinois on Saturday in Carter-Finley Stadium, Joy Hall did what you’d expect the mother of a football player to do: give her son, defensive lineman Davin Vann, a phone call.

“I kind of called him to see how he was feeling, just check in with him,” Hall said.

During that call, they spoke about Hurricane Helene and its impact on the western part of North Carolina. The storm swept through the Southeastern United States late last week, causing widespread damage. As of Oct. 1, the death toll stands at more than 150 deaths, including 57 confirmed deaths in Buncombe County, North Carolina.

“We just kind of started saying, we wanted to do something to help,” Hall said.

So on Monday morning, she and Vann reached out to NC State head coach Dave Doeren.

“Within seconds he texted back and said, ‘absolutely, we’ll help any way we can.'”

The Vann plan needed a van, or should I say, truck. Fortunately, that’s where his mom comes in.

Hall runs a moving company, fittingly called ‘Joyful Movers.’ After conversations with the University, they set up three days of donations: Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 at the Close-King Indoor Practice Facility next to Carter-Finley Stadium.

“We decided this was one thing that we really wanted to take action on, just because people were struggling so bad,” Vann said on Tuesday.

The support has been overwhelming. Volunteers have already filled up two 26-foot long moving trucks with donations. As of Tuesday night, the group started working on van number three.

“It’s a beautiful thing watching that many people bring stuff out and being supportive of Asheville, Boone, all those places,” Vann said.

“I was not prepared for it,” Hall laughed, “but apparently Wolfpack Nation runs way deeper than I expected.”

With the damage and the loss of life, she says now is the time to be there, to help a neighbor, to make things better.

“If giving water to drink or food to eat helps in anyway, then I’ll do it for the next year if I have to,” Hall said.

Once stocked, the group drives the vans to Durham Rescue Mission. From there, the supplies will be disseminated to those in western North Carolina that need them most.

The final day of the supply drive is on Wednesday Oct. 2. The group will be collecting donations from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

By calling 211 or visiting nc211.org, families and individuals can obtain free and confidential information on health and human services and resources in their community.

People trying to connect with family members can call NC 211 or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state. People can also call those numbers to report missing loved ones.