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Featured Photo: Sandhills Community College Vice President for Student Services Chad Williams stands with employees of Blue Ridge Community College following the Dec. 4 donation. (Photo by Rich Keen.)
Marketing & Communications Dept.
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst provided tangible assistance to the Western North Carolina community following Hurricane Helene. After collecting donations for several weeks, Sandhills’ Vice President for Student Services Chad Williams arrived at Blue Ridge Community College with a vehicle full of needed supplies and plenty of encouragement to share.
“I think it caught our state by surprise,” said Williams of the hurricane that struck in late September, leaving many area residents without power and water for weeks. “Thankfully, everybody saw the need, and we have a strong state that wants to support one another.”
Sandhills employees and students contributed a wide range of items to support individuals repairing or rebuilding homes and businesses or seeking employment solutions.
“We brought a variety of items from our community,” said Williams, “everything from clothes to cleaning supplies to toys for kids to sleeping bags.”
When Williams arrived with the sizable donation from Sandhills, he was met by numerous Blue Ridge team members, including Dr. Laura Leatherwood, Blue Ridge’s president. The items were sorted in Blue Ridge’s student resource center operating from the Henderson County Campus. Students affected by Helene continue to visit the resource center regularly to replenish supplies as they work to make ends meet and press on with their studies.
“We are deeply grateful for the generosity extended to us by the students and community members of Sandhills Community College,” said Benjamin Rickert, marketing and communications director at Blue Ridge Community College. “Sandhills is truly putting compassion into action, and we witness daily how this support has a direct and meaningful impact on our students’ ability to pursue their education.”