WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Ross Rowan and Matthew Costin are hoping to bring a “mountain miracle” to kids impacted by Hurricane Helene.
“We’re just trying to try to get some toys for these kids and put a smile on their face for the holiday season,” Rowan said.
Rowan knows all to well about the hardships facing Western North Carolina. He grew up in Watauga County and still knows several people who live near there struggling with the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
“When I say they lost everything, they lost everything,” Rowan said. “I mean their homes which included everything inside them.”
Right after the Hurricane, Rowan took action. He loaded up several tractor trailers of necessary supplies.
“We had a goal of loading one truck and we ended up loading 14 full-size tractor trailers to go to Western North Carolina throughout eight or nine communities,” Rowan said.
Through this, Rowan got the attention of several people in the community, including realtor Matthew Costin. Costin had an idea of his own to help Western North Carolina that he thought Rowan could help him with.
“I was just driving around town one day, and I saw a tractor trailer and my mind just kind of went to you know, it would be really cool to to fill one of those up full of toys and take it to the mountains,” Costin. “Us being a coastal community, everyone always jumps in to help us out when we have hard times and this is our chance to finally give it back to other people and stand up and help them out.”
Everyone told Costin he should get in contact with Rowan. He texted him and just a few days later they were posting content to encourage people to donate to the “Mountain Miracle Toy Drive.”
There are 16 donation drop off boxes located around the Cape Fear area. They’re asking for new wrapped toys for children as young as toddlers to children as old as teenagers.
The drop off locations are:
- Nest Realty – Mayfaire
- Megacorp Logistics
- Vantaca
- Wrightsville Beach Brewery
- Brunswick Beer & Cider
- Amplifly
- Sea Shore Eye Associates
- Port City Sports Collectibles
- The Triangle Lounge
- Redix @ Wrightsville Beach
- Samet Construction Corp
- The Shed
- Sweetwater Surf Shop
- Blakeley’s Apparel and Gifts
- Biggers Market
Some locations are also giving 10% off discounts if you donate a toy.
If you don’t want to donate a physical toy, the drive is also accepting monetary donations so they can do the toy shopping themselves.
The toy drive runs through December 14th. Then, the group plans to deliver the presents on December 17th. The presents will be delivered through Ashe County Schools and toys will also be dropped off near Hendersonville.
Rowan said he couldn’t sit back and let kids go without presents on Christmas morning, especially those who live so close to the place he once called home.
“They’re in the rebuilding stages where, you know, we just want to have families and kids not to have to worry about the toys,” Rowan said. “We are trying to help Santa out a little bit up that way and see if we can’t still bring some Joy to the holiday season.”
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