Local couple travels down to North Carolina to provide relief after Hurricane Helene

Cumberland Co., Pa — A Mechanicsburg couple led a team of central Pennsylvanians who journeyed down to North Carolina to help victims who lost everything to one of the worst storms in U.S. history — Hurricane Helene.

Sean Bower and his wife Hailee saw the destruction taking place from Hurricane Helene. So when Bower and the owner of Flinchy’s, Matt Flinchbaugh, drove through the aftermath and saw the catastrophe right in front of their eyes, he knew something needed to be done.

“When we arrived in North Carolina, there were people in rural communities that lived in the mountains who could not get access to simple resources because of roads that were not accessible to them,” Sean said.

“I remember a lady telling me that she could not get food as simple as ramen noodles,” Sean said. “She was just so thankful.”

After two hours of sleep and an eight-hour drive, Bower and his crew immediately went work, connecting with two women leading a hurricane relief distribution center, with no time to waste.

“It was a mother and daughter that was leading a group down there, and when we rolled up and took everything out, they were thankful. We tried to help, but they just wanted us to rest,” Sean said.

Days before the couple decided to travel to North Carolina, it was an idea that sounded crazy to Sean’s wife, Hailee. But the trip soon became a reality for them, touching hearts hundreds of miles away.

“Sean texted me, and I thought he was crazy in the beginning, until we figured out the logistics and stuff, and of course I was concerned with the conditions down there,” Hailee said.

The couple, having never done this before, left an indelible mark on the victims who suffered without proper resources and the community who watched them both execute their mission in just three days, with still more work to do.

Flinchbaugh never met the Bowers, but when Sean called, he took charge right away. He helped execute his vision in creating a relief donation drive and led it at his restaurant with contributions from businesses and people in the community.

The Flinchy’s restaurant owner rode alongside Bower to North Carolina and was amazed from his efforts that he saw firsthand in a short period of time.

“Sean and his wife did so much and this is the first time he had ever did anything like this, and the impact of what he did – and what he started, hit him at that moment,” Flinchbaugh said.

Donations are still being accepted at Wright Xpress in New Cumberland County, if you would like to contribute to the hurricane relief efforts in North Carolina.