Governor Kristi Noem Joining Franklin Graham on Samaritan’s Purse Airlift Mission to Deliver Winter Clothing in Western North Carolina

BOONE, N.C., Nov. 1, 2024—Samaritan’s Purse is airlifting winter clothing into one of the hardest-hit areas of North Carolina this afternoon. Franklin Graham, the president of the international Christian disaster relief and evangelism organization, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem will deliver hundreds of winter jackets, fleece sweaters and pants to the Bat Cave community near Chimney Rock.

“You can feel the weather changing in higher elevations. Temperatures are falling and bitterly cold weather is coming. We are providing generators, heaters and fuel to help people stay warm, and this generous gift of winter clothing will be a real blessing and go a long way toward helping carry people through the hard months ahead,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. “I couldn’t be more grateful to Governor Kristi Noem for showing up to support the people of North Carolina. So many have suffered unimaginable loss and pain, and I want them to know they aren’t forgotten—God loves and cares for them.”

Two business owners who are based in California, Kirstyn Hairston, founder of KUIU, and Dan and Agatha Genter of Genter Capital Management, came together to make the generous donation of over 1,200 items of winter clothing, and the Genters also personally delivered the gear to North Carolina. Governor Kristi Noem coordinated the donation, and the clothing will be distributed in four isolated communities that were devastated by Hurricane Helene. Franklin Graham, Gov. Noem, and several other guests will fly on the mission to Bat Cave where Samaritan’s Purse will deliver the winter gear on a Black Hawk helicopter.

Gov. Kristi Noem said, “I am so honored to help Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse assist folks in need across North Carolina. God called us to serve one another and help each other—Mr. Graham lives out that calling every day.”

In the five weeks since Helene brought catastrophic damage to the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, Samaritan’s Purse has provided winter clothing for 15,000 people, as well as thousands of generators, heaters, blankets, solar lights, boxes of food and bottled water. In addition, the N.C.-based organization recently completed the largest civilian airlift operation in U.S. history, flying 700,000 pounds of supplies to 80 communities on 357 airlifts.

Samaritan’s Purse has also deployed Disaster Relief Units—tractor-trailers stocked with tools and equipment—to Asheville, Boone, and Burnsville, North Carolina; as well as Perry and Tampa, Florida; and Valdosta, Georgia. Over 30,000 volunteers have served 3,000 families by mudding out flooded homes, clearing debris, removing downed trees, and tarping damaged roofs.

Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan’s Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations—especially in locations where few others are working. Led by Present and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, poverty, famine, and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org.