In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which wreaked havoc across many southern states, the staff and individuals served by Beacon Specialized Living came together to extend a helping hand. Aware of the devastating losses faced by residents in impacted areas, many in our community felt compelled to make a difference. Beacon’s teams in Wisconsin and elsewhere rallied around a heartfelt initiative: creating and sending 130 care packages to storm victims in North Carolina communities.
Each care package was a product of teamwork, filled with essential items such as wipes, snacks, and, in some, gloves or socks—items meant to bring comfort to those who lost so much. Greeting cards, personally crafted by individuals in Beacon homes, added a personal touch, offering messages of hope and encouragement. Donations from local manufacturers, including Carl Buddig & Company, Old Wisconsin, Rockline Industries, and Sargento Foods, made it possible to fill these packages with nourishing snacks and hygiene essentials.
“Many of our individuals were aware of the terrible storm and it’s after effects. As part of daily living, many of our house managers discuss current events like this in the homes. I realized that this was a time when the need is so tremendous that I would talk to our individuals about volunteering to help those that need it most following this horrific storm. It was decided that they would like to create care packages to send to North Carolina. ” – Kristin Morse, Activities Director of Beacon – WI.
Beacon homes like Gateway, Clinton, and Key contributed to decorating cards, while Lakeshore, Westlawn, and others focused on assembling the packages. Additionally, logistics support from Personalized Tours and D & L Grading ensured the packages reached North Carolina, with distribution coordinated by local contacts on the ground.
In total, 130 care packages were prepared and sent to 4 different communities in North Carolina:
Donations were also given in the way of transport and distribution efforts!
Personalized Tours (Waldo, WI) and D & L Grading (New Berlin, WI) helped in the delivery of these care packages to North Carolina and our contacts/’boots on the ground’/ distribution – Brianna Simon (Brevard, NC), Karen Howard-Goss and her husband Gary/Iron horse Station (Hot Springs, NC) and Rennie Fisher (Newport, TN).
Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction, with thousands of homes damaged, countless lives uprooted, and many families facing the loss of their communities and belongings. The storm’s intense winds and flooding caused severe damage across multiple states, leaving residents in urgent need of assistance. Through Beacon’s efforts and support from our partners, we aimed to ease a bit of this burden, showing that even small gestures can help restore hope.
At Beacon Specialized Living, we’re proud of our team and individuals served for stepping up in a time of need. We believe that through acts of kindness like this, our community can offer not just supplies, but a reminder that brighter days lie ahead.
Thank you to everyone that stepped up to help our Beacon individuals in their volunteerism project. They truly were proud to be involved in this effort, knowing that they did their best to help brighten someone’s day.
We at Beacon hope that, through efforts like ours and others throughout the nation, we can help those affected by this tragedy regain some hope that things can and will get better.
Thank you to the following organizations that helped make this amazing endeavor possible!
Carl Buddig & Company (Homewood, Illinois)
Old Wisconsin (Sheboygan, WI) – individually packaged Beef and Turkey sticks
Rockline Industries (Sheboygan, WI) – personal and household wipes
Sargento Foods Inc. (Plymouth, WI) – cheese & cracker/cheese & pretzel packs
