Camp Grier

Gilmer Air Drop was formed by a group of Ellijay pilots that wanted to provide immediate relief to our neighbors in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina from the massive devastation of Hurricane Helene.

On October 1st, a meeting was held at the Gilmer County Airport at 8am, and by 11am, James Sturgeon, owner of White Path Creek Farms, and John Berkstresser took off in his Cessna 182 loaded with supplies and made the first of what would become many flights. The first airport that we received clearance for was Greenville, TN.

I was at that meeting and struggling to find a way to volunteer and help the people in WNC as our son, Jordan Finke, lives in Woodfin (Asheville Suburb) but works at Camp Grier in Old Fort. We had lost communication with him on the previous Thursday and were so relieved to hear from him late Sunday evening.

He survived and was trying to make his way to Camp Grier as many of his friends and coworkers were missing and Old Fort and the Black Mountain area took the brunt of the raging waters.

He did make it later that week and Camp Grier also survived and has since opened it's doors to Old Fort families for hot meals, showers, counseling support, etc.

This fundraiser is intended to provide the camp with financial support for their caring and generosity.

Be Appalachian Strong!