WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A 1997 Mount Greylock Regional graduate is filling a trailer with goods to take to the beleaugured residents of western North Carolina. 

 

Justin Poirot will be swinging through the Berkshires on Wednesday to pick up donations before heading south. 

 

Thousands of North Carolina residents are still dealing with power outages, road washouts and flooding after Hurricane Helene hit the Appalachian region on Sept. 26. State officials say its the deadliest storm in North Carolinas history, with 95 confirmed deaths and more than two dozen people missing. 

 

Nearly a million people were left without power and more than 1,200 roads closed in the days immediately following landfall. On Monday, state officials said about 5,000 customers are still without power a month after the storm and about two-thirds of affected roads are open. 

 

More than 6,000 people are known to be in temporary housing through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has so far provided $129 million in individual assistance. 

 

Poirot attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the state of Florida and spent more than 20 years as a police officer in Gainesville, including as a helicopter pilot for the force. He more recently retired and now lives in South Hadley. 

 

"These supplies will go directly in the hands of people that need them," wrote Poirot. "I have family and friends in North Carolina already that will help deliver the donations and know where where the supplies need to go."

 

He's not asking for monetary donations and is undertaking the trip on his own dime. 

 

The goal is to fill a trailer with 7,000 pounds of food, clothing, necessities and tools to help North Carolinians 

 

Kristen Lafleur of Clarksburg, a friend who's helping with the donations, they're trying to maximize the trailer space and make sure what's being brought down can be used. 

 

Requested items (listed below), include baby formula and diapers, cat and dog food, canned and nonperishable items, blankets and sleeping bags, tools such as shovels and axes. 

 

"We're asking pople to keep in mind the thing they're going to be donating," said Lefleur. "They're going to people in need. They don't have a way to wash items so they need to be clean."

 

New or clean, gently used clothing for adults and children is acceptable. Donators are also asked to check for expiration dates on food; Lefleur said they've had some issues with expired food that had to be tossed. 

 

Poirot is doing pickups in the Hadley area on Tuesday at Lowe's in Ware at 11 a.m.; South Hadley Big Y at 3 and the boathouse in South Hadley at 5. 

 

Wednesday, he will be at the Colonial Plaza on Main Street in Williamstown from 2 to 3 p.m. and at the Big Y on West Street in Pittsfield from 4 to 5 p.m.

 

Donated items requested: 

The North Adams Elks have donated 40 cases of bottled water and Drury High School students are drawing and writing cards and poems through a community service program with teacher Pat Boulger. Lefleur said they are expecting about 500 items from Drury but more are welcome. 

 

"Lastly I'm requesting cards of encouragement. These people lost everything," she said. "I think cards of encouragement from the people of Massachusetts would bring a moment of joy to some very dark times."