The Power to Serve: Western NC Relief Efforts

The slogan, “Our People Are Our Power,” extends beyond CarolinaPower employees to include their families. Greg Atherton, son of CarolinaPower’s David Atherton, Preconstruction/Project Manager, is a pilot who volunteered to help with Western North Carolina relief efforts organized by Operation Airdrop Inc out of Concord, North Carolina, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

For Greg, the mission was to pick up planeloads of donated supplies at Pickens County Airport in Upstate South Carolina – a designated drop-off hub for infant supplies, food, water, clothing, and medical supplies – and transport the cargo to various airports in the ravaged areas of Western NC.  

David accompanied his son on a trip to Sylva, NC, just one of 673 flights organized by Operation Airdrop-Concord to 15 drop sites. When they landed at Jackson County Airport, David said

they were met by volunteers, who in “conga line fashion” unloaded the supplies onto waiting trailers and delivered the much-needed items to the locals.  

Mission Complete: In total, Operation Airdrop-Concord moved 1,102,000 pounds of supplies to Western NC with 402,000 of that flown by air, the other 700,000 pounds by truck.

“The Power to Serve” is one of three foundational beliefs of the PPC Partners family of companies, of which CarolinaPower is a part.