Asheville, NC – Gathr Outdoors, a global leader in outdoor camping and recreation products, has announced its commitment to assist victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. In collaboration with Softer Streets, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those affected by natural disasters, Gathr will distribute essential outdoor sleeping gear to survivors across at least 13 counties, including remote areas that have seen limited aid.
Bill Bettencourt, President of the Outdoor Segment at Gathr Outdoors, emphasized the company’s dedication to supporting recovery efforts, particularly in the Asheville region where many employees reside. “We discovered that the most pressing needs were for blankets, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads as fall approaches and temperatures drop. Our Klymit brand specializes in rugged outdoor sleep gear, making it an ideal choice for this initiative. Gathr is proud to donate thousands of units to help our community during this critical recovery period,” Bettencourt stated.
The distribution will include thousands of Klymit Klymaloft sleeping pads, Wild Aspen sleeping bags, and Horizon Travel blankets. These items will be delivered to Avery County Airport in Spruce Pine, NC, where they will be transferred to a network of volunteers coordinated by Softer Streets, tasked with reaching the hardest-hit areas of western North Carolina.
“The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has been devastating,” said Amy La Porte, President of Softer Streets. “Dozens have lost their lives, towns have been destroyed, and thousands of survivors are now facing homelessness. Many families are currently sleeping in makeshift shelters, on friends’ floors, or in their cars after fleeing the floods. While many organizations are doing their best to provide assistance, there are still unmet needs, particularly for long-term sleeping supplies. We are immensely grateful to Gathr and our longstanding partner, Klymit, for addressing this gap. This initiative wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our Softer Streets team members, Vice-President Nicole File and Community Outreach Director Judi Moolten, who are both tirelessly advocating for their home state of North Carolina.”
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