The Cumberland County High School Future Business Leaders of America, FFA, BETA and Health Occupations Students of America clubs have been working hard to collect toys, clothing, building materials and items for Angel Trees in East Tennessee and West North Carolina.
They adopted seven families that had suffered total losses at the hands of Hurricane Helene and the flooding. Due to the outpouring of support from all over our community, the clubs were able to deliver Christmas to the seven Angel Tree families including a full trailer of building supplies for tiny homes and a large load of toys and gifts for affected families.
In December 2024, 25 Future Business Leaders of America, FFA, BETA and Health Occupations Students of America clubs students along with six teachers from CCHS set off to Waynesville, NC, and took part in the unloading, assembling and sorting of bicycles, toys, clothes and various other items.
They helped prepare everything for over 700 families that were showing up on Dec. 21.
Once the pickup event was over on Saturday, 700+ families had the opportunity to gather all of the toys and gifts they needed, had a warm Christmas meal and 800+ bicycles had a new home.
After spending time in Waynesville, the group traveled to Newport to deliver building materials and Angel Tree gifts.
“The route from Waynesville to Newport is heartbreaking. 83 days post Hurricane Helene, the towns still resemble war zones, there are hundreds homes that are in ruins, and so many small businesses are still boarded up,” said Aaron Daenell, the Career and College Technical Education for Marketing and Management, Computer Science, the Fishing Team Coach and a tnAchieves Mentor for Future Business Leaders of America. “We all felt extremely humbled and blessed to have been able to help so many and will continue to support our East Tennessee neighbors as they work to rebuild their lives.”
Daenell sends thanks to all the people who helped make this event possible.