“Family of four and Vietnam vet impacted by Hurricane Helene receive camper van as Christmas gift”

Two families in North Carolina who were impacted by Hurricane Helene received the gifts of a lifetime on Christmas Day – a new place to call home.

The first recipient was the Penley family, of Boone, North Carolina, who lost everything during the storm.

After being discharged from the hospital following the birth of their second child, a family of four had planned to move into a homeless shelter. However, EmergencyRV intervened to provide them with a trailer to stay in instead.

EmergencyRV, a non-profit organization, shared in a video that they were not going to let the family stay in a homeless shelter. They provided a trailer for them, ensuring a safe and comfortable place to live.

This organization has been gifting campers to those affected by natural disasters like Helene. Since the storm caused destruction in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee in late September, EmergencyRV has already provided 77 RVs to those in need. The campers are given for free, with the title of ownership transferred to the recipient.

The organization said it has 700 families on its waiting list who have been fully vetted and are truly in need of help following a natural disaster.

The brand-new camper that was donated and delivered to Timothy McCord through EmergencyRV. (EmergencyRV/X)

“We take this seriously as we have limited resources,” the organization said on X. “We also ensure that the family has a legal and safe place to park an RV before we will gift it and deliver to them.”

Though they prioritize veterans and first responders, EmergencyRV said they have helped families and singles who lost their home or suffered serious damage in Helene.

EmergencyRV was established by Woody Faircloth and his then 6-year-old daughter in 2018 in response to the deadly Camp Fire in Paradise, California.

Their goal was to raise enough money to bless one family impacted by the fire with a RV. They were able to do that and have since donated hundreds of RVs to victims of wildfires and other natural disasters.