NC State

Triangle college football teams collecting supplies to help western NC storm victims

By Jadyn Watson-Fisher

Updated December 3, 2024 7:03 PM

N.C. State defensive end Davin Vann helps collect supplies at Close-King Indoor Practice Facility Monday, Sept. 30. Vann and his brother Rylan, an offensive lineman, are working with their mother to collect supplies that will be transported to residents in western North Carolina. Jadyn Watson-Fisher jwatson-fisher@newsobserver.com

Hurricane Helene Aftermath

Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer about Hurricane Helene and the aftermath, particularly in Western North Carolina.

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RALEIGH

Two NC State football players are working with their family to assist survivors of Helene, the massive storm that ravaged western North Carolina.

Brothers Davin and Rylan Vann are working with their mother, Joy Hall-Haley, who owns Joyful Moving, and Durham Rescue Mission to collect supplies for residents in western North Carolina. They have set up on the east side of Close-King Indoor Practice Facility, across from Carter-Finley Stadium. The goal is to “fill a truck” that will leave Thursday.

“It’s just devastating to see people that have lost everything; their whole livelihood, their homes,” Hall-Haley said on Monday afternoon. “I can’t imagine, as a mom, going through that same kind of thing. It’s just amazing to see people already. I really didn’t think that people were gonna come and bring stuff, but I was wrong.”

About two hours after the game on Saturday, Hall-Haley said the family discussed how it could help support the survivors.

Hall-Haley admitted she second-guessed herself on Sunday, unsure if they could pull off the feat. Monday, they decided it was possible.

“I just said, ‘Nope, I’m going to do it. I want to help. Davin wants to help, so let’s do it,’” Hall-Haley said.

She texted N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren on Monday morning about using the football facilities as a collection site. His response came within seconds and he was “on board immediately,” Davin Vann said.

It means a lot to be part of a program and to play for a coach who supports efforts like this, Hall-Haley and Davin Vann said.

“I think it says a lot about coach Doeren,” Davin Vann said. “He does a lot of charity work himself, so I think him allowing us to use the facility for us to do some is very great.”

“It makes me feel happy and thankful for Coach Doeren,” Hall-Haley added. “And, thankful that my boys made the right choice to come here.”

All items collected by the family and its Joyful Moving team will be given to Durham Rescue Mission for distribution. Due to the storm’s impact, organizations must obtain specific authorization. There were also concerns about reaching the affected areas.

If the truck ends up full, Hall-Haley said there are plans to bring more on site. They are also willing to lead other efforts, because she knows the recovery period will take years.

N.C. State defensive end Davin Vann, left, and his brother Rylan, an offensive lineman, help collect supplies at Close-King Indoor Practice Facility Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. The Vanns are working with their mother Joy Hall-Haley to collect supplies that will be transported to residents in western North Carolina. Jadyn Watson-Fisher jwatson-fisher@newsobserver.com

Collection times are Monday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m. During his weekly news conference, Doeren encouraged residents to bring items and fill the truck with supplies.

“Really proud and thankful for Davin and his family. Davin probably just came off the best game of his career, as well,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said on Monday. “For that to be on his mind today, I think, says a lot about that young man and his family.”

Davin, a defensive end, is in his fifth season at N.C. State and second consecutive as a team captain. The graduate student recorded career highs with 10 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles Saturday against Northern Illinois

Rylan, a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman, is in his third season with the Pack.

Aydan White, Isaiah Shirley and Zack Myers are all from the impacted region, Doeren said. Their families are safe but called it a “scary time for them.” Doeren’s son, Jacob, attends Appalachian State in Boone. His second son, Connor, plays at East Tennessee State. ETSU’s team bus was stranded in the flooding on its way to a game. Both are safe, as well.

“I think the damage is so much worse than people even understood,” Doeren said. “All the people, the homes, the businesses, communities, state parks that have just been devastated by this flood, it’s really sad and tragic. We are here praying and thinking a lot about the folks in the western part of the state.”

A man crosses a narrow section of flood damaged bridge in Swannanoa on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. The remnants of Hurricane Helene caused widespread flooding, downed trees, and power outages in western North Carolina. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com

Duke launches donation drive

Duke University’s football coach announced Monday that the Blue Devils will also shepherd a donation drive.

The donation drive will run through Oct. 11, with items accepted at the Duke athletics ticket office in Scott Family Athletics Performance Center at 110 Whitford Drive, Durham, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. In addition Two Men and Truck will have truck parked at Tribull Plaza during Countdown to Craziness this Friday to collect items.

Items requested are: non-perishable food, bottled water, contractor-size trash bags, blankets, first aid supplies, feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby clothes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, paper towels, bleach, shovels, brooms, gloves, coolers, flashlights, batteries and fans.

As an extra incentive, Duke offers two discount ticket packages.

The first offer is $25 for one east reserved football ticket for Virginia Tech at Duke on Nov. 23 plus one reserved women’s basketball ticket for Belmont at Duke on Nov. 21.

The second offer is $45 for one general admission (standing room only) men’s basketball ticket for Seattle at Duke on Nov. 29 plus one general admission women’s basketball ticket for Belmont at Duke on Nov. 21.

For every five items donated from the list, fans can purchase one ticket package.

In addition, a Two Men and a Truck vehicle will return to Morton Plaza at Duke on Oct. 18 to collect donations when Florida State and Duke play football that night at Wallace Wade Stadium. The ticket offer will not be in effect for the Oct. 18 donation site.

Duke football coach Manny Diaz said one of his assistant coaches got in touch with a high school football coach from Western N.C. on Monday and heard grim details of the situation.

“To hear (about) people just cut off from civilization because of the roads either being impassable or just flat out gone,” Diaz said, “Bridges wiped out. People who have cars who can’t take them anywhere. People who can’t get to their cars or are out of gas. Just the destruction and the disruption of life.

“These are the things that you would expect in a movie. And this is real life going on in our state right now. And so again, it’s something that we want to be a part of helping in any way we can.”