American Towing and Recovery Institute onThe Go
American Towing and Recovery Institute onThe Go
From Hurricanes to Helping Hands
Discover the transformative power of community resilience and support in the latest episode of the American Towing Recovery Institute podcast. Join me, DJ Harrington, and towing industry veteran Wes Wilburn, as we promise to equip you with vital insights into safety, education, and networking within the towing and recovery sector. Fresh from our enlightening training session in Medford, Oregon, we shine a spotlight on JT, a promising instructor contributing to our mission. Amidst the backdrop of recent hurricanes ravaging regions from Florida to Tennessee, our thoughts are with those rebuilding their lives. We also share the exciting lineup of upcoming training events on critical topics such as electric vehicles and heavy-duty towing.
Our heartfelt conversations pivot to a remarkable guest, Tabatha from Tabatha's Auto Towing in Hendersonville, North Carolina, whose inspiring story serves as a beacon of hope. After enduring a harrowing 13 days without power, Tabatha has launched a winter clothing drive to support families who have lost everything. Her initiative is a testament to the power of community efforts in times of adversity, addressing challenges like overcrowded shelters and limited FEMA assistance. With a focus on bridging gaps in support, we proudly commit to promoting Kat’s cause, underscoring the profound impact of local action.
Furthermore, we spotlight the commendable outreach work of Tabatha and her husband, who are harnessing the spirit of volunteerism in Hendersonville. Their program, dedicated to collecting clothing and essential items for those in makeshift shelters, exemplifies how individuals can bring about meaningful change. We also delve into logistical challenges in disaster relief, including the importance of ensuring displaced individuals can still exercise their right to vote. As we rally support for these initiatives, our episode offers an earnest appeal to help communities in need, ensuring dignity and basic necessities for children returning to school.
Welcome one and all to the American Towing Recovery Institute podcast.
Speaker 1:Remember this is your podcast to promote safety, education, positive public relations and networking within the professional and business-minded towing and recovery industry. I'm your co-host, dj Harrington, better known as the Tow Doctor, and my other host is Wes Wilburn, over 40-year towing industry veteran, the founder of American Towing Recovery Institute of Fayetteville, north Carolina. He has produced and conducted training and certification programs for leading towing companies, equipment distributors, towing associations, dot, fire departments, rescue, as well as military installations across the United States. Wes has been published over 100 times in major towing publications published over 100 times in major towing publications. Wes has developed many courses, including the most recent awareness-level course for all responders that specialize in electric vehicles as well as hybrid, natural gas and hydrogen vehicles. Wes has provided insight as the main speaker for over 30 years at more than 900 training classes and has been recognized as one of America's greatest towing trainers. He is well known for his straightforward but down-to-earth teaching style. No-transcript. Without further ado, here's my dear friend and a great guy for our industry, wes Wilber.
Speaker 3:Well, DJ, as always, you're way too kind with your words. I certainly appreciate your kind words and the introduction, DJ, I'll tell you, a little tired, had a long week here, but we had a really good week. This past weekend we went out to Medford, Oregon. We're at Star Auto Body out there. Nice auto body operation that has Towing as one of its divisions Real, real nice folks out there and my first time ever going to Oregon teaching a school. Ever been out that far, DJ.
Speaker 1:Oh yes.
Speaker 3:There are good people out there. There really are. Training had never been to that far state so that was a very exciting element. Got a lot of local people that never wanted to travel across the state for any kind of training. And JT was out there with me. Boy, he's coming along as an instructor, dj, let me tell you, that's good. He really makes the class click along and focused time and time again when he's out there with me, on how we take the information, the technical information, from the classroom and put it where it really explain it how it really applies in the field. You know, part of the magic is he's still out there working heavy truck accidents and whatnot. So he's been able to convert a lot of information real well, so that's been real exciting.
Speaker 1:So what's happening?
Speaker 3:Man a whole lot. We just had the second hurricane hit. As we're recording this, as you know, we're not even 12 hours after it cleared landfall. So we're praying for our folks in Central Florida and of course, we still have the remnants and the issues from the first hurricane, which affected western part of our state tremendously and that affected the corner of Georgia too and a little bit of South Carolina, but definitely western North Carolina and Tennessee. That impacted severely. Matter of fact, western North Carolina is going to be a big part of this podcast. Today we are fortunate to have a guest from that corner of the state that's going to tell us what's going on and we're supporting one of the tow drives that she and her family have, and I'll be talking about that in the second section. Hopefully there was no major loss of life in the second hurricane. We keep everybody from both hurricanes alive in our thoughts and prayers.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Wes, there was a couple in the second one, Milton. And of course we had over 223 on the other one, the one that hit Asheville that we're going to talk about later in the podcast. But right now could you be kind enough to tell some of our listeners one that's a hit Asheville that we're going to talk about later in the podcast. But right now could you be kind enough to tell some of our listeners about some upcoming training and then we'll go to that special podcast of ours.
Speaker 3:Friday, october the 18th. We'll be at Wapto Hotel in Lake Station. It's a Friday evening class. It's three hours but electric vehicles and that's free. If you need to re-register you can go to our website. Saturday Sunday two-day heavy-duty tow and recovery with rotator. There are still seats available for that course. It's a two-full-day hands-on certification course.
Speaker 3:Wapta will be doing their famous steel coil presentation. They'll get a steel coil of real weight 30,000, 40,000 pounds generally Put it in a funny position like it's all the truck that's sitting in the middle of the highway. Dj. These guys are such experts dealing with these coils all their life the way they have. Kevin can take that thing in just a matter of minutes to have it in that position back on its side, like it. The way they have. Kevin can take that thing in just a matter of minutes to have it in that position back on its side like it's supposed to be and ready to load on a truck within minutes. That's the demonstration they'll do as part of the class.
Speaker 3:Then in November the second and third will be in Elkhart, just down the road two weeks later, the light duty, medium duty class with Tom's 24-hour towing. We're going to be a great host Then to finish out the year in November 16th 17th we'll be in Sumner, south Carolina, working with Sumner Towing. They've got a YouTube channel. Also be working with Ron Moore some of the fire department as well in a fire tower cross training class. That's November 16th 17th Start out the year in January down in Lake Charles, louisiana.
Speaker 3:We'll also have Hope Block, alabama, in March, along with North Carolina. For all the details of those and other classes, check out our website wwwamtowriorg. So that's a short process of where we'll be in the future. We do have one class I want to talk about, for next year will be a six-day class. We're doing dj. First three days I'll lead it by myself with jt and the rest of the team. Last three days, tommy lucena will come in and lead the class and I'll assist him. It's going to be in may out in st louis, missouri. They have a package price includes your hotel.
Speaker 3:The whole thing was $3,263. But if you pre-register before November 1st, $2,745. That's for the whole thing. All you have to do is get there. The room, all your meals and all the training are certifications. Oh, wow, yeah, DJ, that's quite a deal, isn't it?
Speaker 1:It sure is, With you and Luciano. That'd be phenomenal.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we already got the people registered. It's going to be a really special event and I'm looking forward to it. Tommy's had a minor issue with a couple health things, but it looks like he's working through it pretty good, so we're really excited about working with him next year well, he looked good at the wall of the fallen.
Speaker 1:You know he had that knee surgery and he's walking with a cane, but that'll be done in a couple weeks, so he's really looking good good to hear.
Speaker 3:I've heard that that's good to hear. So we that's where we're at, what we're looking forward to. We are planning out 2025. So if you're interested in a training date, you need to reach out to us. And, besides that, we got a great interview today. Take folks right down to ground I don't know if I said ground zero, but down to one of the parts of Western North Carolina that's been affected by the storm and the flooding and the aftermath. They lost power for 13 days. People I've known for many years through the North Carolina Talent Association, facebook, friends with them, good family folks. We're conducting a winter code drive, so right after the break, we're going to be really anxious to tell you about what's going on. We're going to ask you some questions about what is happening out there, so hang around, we'll be right back.
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Speaker 7:Information in this podcast is made possible by generous sponsorship from Henry's Wrecker, serving the community with quality towing and recovery for over 40 years. Henrysweckercom.
Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Of course you know you're listening to the American Towing Recovery Institute podcast with Wes Wilburn and DJ Harrington. Now I want all of you to remember that we're available each and every week on Spotify, itunes, pandora, stitcher, iheartmedia, amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1:And as always, wes tells you thank you for so many of you, for over 16,000 listeners and growing because of the kind people in the solar and recovery industry. So, wes, we got a great guest and somebody that we really want to help, so I'll turn it back over to you. Thank you, dj.
Speaker 3:And we do thank all the listeners, all the people that have hit the subscribe button. We really appreciate you and if you haven't, please do that. We try to keep in touch with what's going on in the tailoring industry and what's going on in the world in general. And, uh, western North Carolina has definitely been in everybody around the country. Thoughts and prayers, of course, do it. Travel in the country and doing schools.
Speaker 3:A whole lot of people have reached out to me when they heard North Carolina, uh, and just reach out to me to make sure, didn't you know wasn't connected, exactly what part of the state we were in, et cetera.
Speaker 3:And of course, we're in the eastern part of the state, so we've had no effects whatsoever. The western part of the state definitely has some effects and there's a towing family out there that I'm Facebook friends with that I guess I met Ryan when Ryan was part of the association at a tow Show, I think eight or 10 years ago. I think we'll have Tabitha help clear that, maybe help me remember that. But Tabitha and Ryan Kapps run Kapps Auto Towing in Western North Carolina, hendersonville, and she's doing a great thing with a clothing drive that we've already started to help and we're going to try to promote people to help. We'll talk about that, but that we've already started to help and we're going to try to promote people to help, we'll talk about that. But, kat, I want to welcome you to the podcast. Why don't you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about yourself and your family?
Speaker 4:I do not mind at all. My name is Kat at the Kat. My husband owns Kat's Auto Towing. We have ran that business ever since I met him, so 22 years plus. We're just grateful that we can do what we're doing.
Speaker 3:You guys are in Hendersonville, north Carolina. That's what about 30 or 40 miles south of Asheville? Help me out with that a little bit.
Speaker 4:Maybe about 20 miles south of Asheville.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 4:Not far, not far at all.
Speaker 3:And that's a very mountainous region as well. Am I correct with that? Absolutely, absolutely. How did you guys, how did you in your family fair, and then the local area fair, fair through the hurricane.
Speaker 4:We as a family fared wonderful. We were very blessed to only lose power. I say only lose power. It was 13 days, which was long, but compared to so many others, we are so fortunate the area here was hit less than a lot of other places, but there's still devastation everywhere you turn.
Speaker 3:Wow, that's a very good attitude. You've lost power for 13 days. That's a very good attitude. Tabitha, that really is. I'm trying real hard. God bless you. God bless you.
Speaker 5:Tabithaa, I would say either you're doing it or you're trying, and you're doing it. You're not trying, ma'am, you're doing a great job thank you.
Speaker 4:It's not been easy at times, but when you look around and you see what everyone else is going through, it makes you know that even if you don't have power, you're okay, you're okay, you still have.
Speaker 3:You know that, even if you don't have power, you're okay.
Speaker 4:You're okay. You still have clothes on my back.
Speaker 3:I'm blessed. God bless you. You're so true. So I saw the Facebook post you created about the winter clothing drive, that winter is coming. There's a lot of families up there that don't have anything. We think it's a wonderful thing you're doing, because everybody can look through their closet and find a few things to send, and what we're committed to is we're going to give their address. It's on our Facebook page as well, but we want to help promote this winter clothing drive everywhere that we can. So tell us a little bit about it. The one thing you asked is, if people send boxes they help right on the outside what it is. Tell us about the winter cutter. Tell us about it, what y'all need, et cetera, if you would please.
Speaker 5:Can I ask one question, adam, to that what inspires you to do the winter clothing drive? What was it that you've seen in your area or around you that said this is a good thing that we can do?
Speaker 4:Well, everyone comes in and they're all going to volunteer and serve food and provide water and canned foods and supplies of that, which is amazing. We have an amazing community in the mountains here and we couldn't be more thankful. But this week alone our mornings are 45 degrees, whereas last week our mornings were 60. So the temperature is dropping at night quickly and these people have lost everything. They don't have warm clothes, they don't have a blanket, they don't have a jacket, they don't have a hat. Some of them don't even have a home to go to to try to get that, and that's what inspired us. A lot of places were turning away clothing donations because they only wanted food or cleaning supplies, and I understand that. But they're going to be cold and they need clothing and from here out it is only going to get colder. We don't normally get warmer in the month of October and I think that people forget that they've just lost everything they can't afford.
Speaker 5:You're up in the mountains where it's getting chilly here too. We're further south. You're up in the mountains. The temperature is dropping a lot more than it is here.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and it drops rapidly and sporadically. I should say that also because, like right now, it's probably 80 degrees outside, which is quite nice, but, like I said, this morning it was 45. That's chilly, especially if you're a child or if you're sleeping in a tent.
Speaker 5:It's chilly yeah, to me it's cold.
Speaker 3:I'm cold at 45 degrees yes, ma'am, there's a lot of people sleeping in tents.
Speaker 4:Oh, absolutely Absolutely. We have many, many people sleeping in tents around here. I can only imagine what it's like in the other counties. I have not been fortunate enough to go out and see a lot of that. I've seen a little and see a lot of that. I've seen a little. Of course, ryan is out and about in it every day and he comes home every day with a new description of a makeshift tent or you know people. It's almost like a homeless camp, but they're not homeless because they were homeless before. They're homeless because their house washed down the river. Obviously, there's a lot of shelters set up for people, but those get overcrowded and overrun and some of them are closing down. So yeah, it's devastating, devastating.
Speaker 5:So, timothy, can I ask a question? How does the response? I'm sure there's a lot of local people in your area, because that's North Carolina, that's what we do, and you're also in the talent industry and that's also what we do. I am absolutely sure that you're getting a lot of outreach and a lot of help with that in your community. How does the local and federal government play a part in that, aiding and assisting what you guys are going through?
Speaker 4:I'm certainly glad that you asked that question. Our local government and our local community members, our churches, all of those people have stepped up. Fema has come in and I must say I'm disappointed. Fema has offered $750 for emergency funding for people to get supplies that you have to qualify. I only know one person personally that has qualified. Most people are being denied, so that's very discouraging. But our local, our county managers, our city councils, they have all stepped up. They have tried to find buildings to you know, set up shelters and distribution centers that would be centrally located that people can get to. So our local government has been amazing.
Speaker 5:I want to tell you. The second most heartbreaking thing for me is that the federal government. The first heartbreaking thing is that this has happened and that you guys are going through that because this stayed far away from us here where we're at we we were not. We had some limbs down, we didn't even have a power addict, we skated through that thing like nothing. The second most heartbreaking thing for me is the federal government and their responsiveness is it's that is the most when they can give money to everything and everybody else, it's heartbreaking.
Speaker 4:It's hard to see it, it's hard to fathom that that's the reality, but it's. It is truly the reality here.
Speaker 4:I mean it may not be, you know. I mean, I know that Milton just hit Florida and I pray for those people there and I hope that they get better response than we did, because we have not. Like I said, they're here, fema is here, the Red Cross is here, the National Guard is here. The National Guard and the Red Cross have done more than FEMA. Fema is strictly taking applications for the $750 that most people are being denied, and to me I mean. $750 doesn't fill the refrigerator full of food that you lost, does it?
Speaker 5:even do that, and if they were doing that and saying okay, here's the first step, and then we're here. This is your first step. This is going to be yeah, this is your first step. We're going to give you this, and now you have more coming, if it was that, but it's not even that.
Speaker 4:No, it is not. And you know there was this big advertisement from FEMA that they were going to reimburse for generators. So several people went and got generators thinking okay, well, I'm going to be reimbursed. That is false. People have tried for the reimbursement people that I know personally not just rumors and been denied. If you did not have a tree fall directly on your house, you did not get the reimbursement for the generator. I find that sad. I was 13 days without power. People are still without power. Like 30,000 people just in our county are still without power. I find it disheartening. You know, obviously we can make it, but it would help.
Speaker 5:It's heartbreaking, Tabitha.
Speaker 3:To hear that in America today. That is heartbreaking.
Speaker 5:Yeah, ititha To hear that in America today, that is heartbreaking. Yeah, it's sad. So then it's up to us, isn't it? It's up to us, it's up to North Carolinians, and it's up to the towing industry, and it's up to your community churches.
Speaker 3:And that is why I connected with this winter tow drive is because when I saw you all were involved and you're going to help get things distributed out.
Speaker 4:Well, and like I had said earlier, we got boxes today from you guys and we're so appreciative, and Ryan has already put them in the truck and has gone to deliver them to a trailer park here locally now that do have makeshift tents. Up there. There's about 20 trailers. They almost all were damaged. They won't be fixed for three or four weeks.
Speaker 3:So I tell you what we really got.
Speaker 3:To take a quick break and I didn't want to do it because this power station was so real I got to take a quick break, but we're going to come back in the break and I want to talk about besides. When they're closed, we need tents and things. You know, tabitha, what my plan is instead of a UPS package car pulling up in front of y'all's place, it's going to be a UPS tractor trailer loaded with stuff and we're going to make that happen. I know the selling industry cares, and if people need tents and air mattresses, we're going to talk about all that right after the break. You can hang around, can't you Certainly?
Speaker 7:We right after the break. You can hang around, can't you? Certainly We'll be right back. Traa, the Injured Drivers Fund and legislation that makes all of us safer are what makes this industry special. Ina Towing supports all of this and more. When there is a need, gay Rochester is always one of the first to come forward and ask how can I help. The American Towing and Recovery Institute is always one of the first to come forward and ask how can I help? The American Towing and Recovery Institute is honored to have the support of the INA Towing Network. Together, we all make a difference. Ina Towing Network Simplified solutions, superior service.
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Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Of course you know you're listening to the number one podcast in the towing and recovery industry, the American Towing Recovery Institute podcast with Wes Wilburn and DJ DJ Harrington, the toe doctor. Now I want to thank all of you for listening. Please remember to share and like. If you have an industry expert or you have a cause, just like Tabitha from Caps has today, just dial a hotline number here at the podcast center 706-409-5603.
Speaker 1:And, tabitha, I think this is a fantastic program and what you're doing for very needy people and I want to tell all our listeners yes, they need clothing, but we also know they need prayer. So, tabitha, I like what you said off the air before we're coming back from break. These are people. If you can give, if you're in the sound of our voice and you can give, we'd like you to. If not, you pray for these people. But, tabitha, I'm going to turn it over to you so you could talk to our listeners and give the address of TAPS so that people can actually have that big brown truck. Bring you supplies that you and your husband could pass out.
Speaker 3:Not package cards taxi trailers Sorry for interrupting, go ahead.
Speaker 4:That's okay. The address for that would be 502 South Witted Street, W-H-I-T-T-E-D, and that is Hendersonville, North Carolina 28739.
Speaker 5:I'm just going to just say one thing before West Coast back in here, during these times, sometimes we look in the mirror and think if there's just something we could do, even if it's small. Even if it's small, you've given an opportunity and outlet for that, because everybody has something in their closet that they're not going to wear anymore, and that's an easy thing. That's an easy thing to donate, and hopefully they send it to you. But if not, then go to your local communities and donate.
Speaker 3:Yes, absolutely. That's a great thing. You folks are doing Folks as you're sending things, help them organize. It's a volunteer effort. On the outside of the box, write what it is.
Speaker 3:Be, as distinctly clear as you can, the sizes, men's clothing, women's, et cetera, the best you can. They really appreciate that. Extra help Makes things go a whole lot smoother and makes the work prove a few hands that are doing it a little bit less. So we appreciate that. And folks tents come on. People are living in makeshift tents. We've got to be able to get some good hunting gear etc. You probably some of the people listening to this thing got a ton of points at the different bash pro and whatnot. So Miles, miles you collected on that credit card et cetera. You turn it into something where some folks are really needed. It's a decent, intense at least needs some decent gear, state-of-the-art gear, not old raggedy stuff. If they're lucky to have anything it sounds like at this point.
Speaker 4:Parts, literally, that's what they're sleeping under is parts. It's pitiful. And if you can't donate, just pray, just pray.
Speaker 3:That's right.
Speaker 4:That's what we need.
Speaker 3:Absolutely.
Speaker 4:And.
Speaker 3:Tabitha, I want to talk a little bit more about you for a second, just to give paying people a picture. You serve your community. You volunteered long before any of this stuff was happening. You serve on the election board in your county, Is that correct?
Speaker 4:I do work with the elections in my county.
Speaker 3:yes, Tell us a little bit about that, would you please?
Speaker 4:Sure, I started a few years ago. I started a few years ago. I worked as a precinct worker and I enjoyed it, you know, just checking in the voters and directing them to where to go to vote, and I've just hung around ever since. I am glad to call that my office, to call that my office. We are like a family in our election board here and we try to serve the community in more ways than just the elections. Obviously, with this being an election year, we are busy, busy, busy and it's great and we see all walks of life coming in and out and grateful that they can register to vote, or grateful, when it is early voting or Election Day, that we have a place for them to come in and do so. So it's very rewarding.
Speaker 3:Boy, that does sound like it and that's something that sounds like you've been doing for a while. It's folks like you that step up and do those things that make keep this democracy alive and going forward. We really thank you for your service.
Speaker 5:And then they have. I have another question to ask because I've seen on the news a little bit where some of the areas that are affected have already gotten their vote by mail things and that might get lost. What has been done with that, If it?
Speaker 4:has gotten lost, they can reissue another ballot, which is, you know, like if they can't find it, if they've been displaced from their home, they can't go back to their home which is, you know, a lot, especially in these mountainous regions that have been hit by this hurricane they can just call their board of elections or stop by their board of elections and they can get another ballot issued to them.
Speaker 4:Ok, and it's all trackable, not like the mail trackable, but like you cannot vote twice. There is, there is absolutely not a way to do that. Cannot vote twice. There is absolutely not a way to do that. So it is not going to cause that kind of upset and we want to make sure that every voter has the opportunity to do that. So a lot of people that have been displaced have gone places out of state to be with family or friends that can have a place for them, and their ballot is lost in the mail up here because the post offices haven't been able to deliver. So we can read they can reissue that ballot and it would be like the same ballot number and that way even, even if they're out of state visiting uh family until absolutely you can mail.
Speaker 4:A mail-in ballot to wherever that I was.
Speaker 5:I was a little concerned about that because I was like, if they can't get it, and the most important thing in for democracy is that you have the right to vote and it doesn't matter who you vote for or what party you're affiliated with, that you have the right to vote and it doesn't matter who you vote for or what party you're affiliated with, that you have that right to vote and it's not taken away from you.
Speaker 4:Yeah, no, and we are doing everything in our power to make sure that everybody has their opportunity, that it is not taken away from them.
Speaker 3:Well, that's excellent to hear. That really is.
Speaker 4:It's our pleasure. We enjoy what we do there and it shows. It shows when you walk in our election door. It shows.
Speaker 3:That's good to hear. That really is Winter clothes. I'm going to suggest tents, sleeping bags, proper camping gear. What else do folks need in that part of the world, especially something that will ship? Oh, before I ask that question, ups is getting to you. Okay, we suggest UPS to get stuff to you all up there. Is that correct?
Speaker 4:Yes, ups has been delivering. I haven't seen FedEx yet, but that doesn't mean that they're not delivering here. I just have not been in an area that I could see them. Probably there are still lots of areas here that are. You know, we call them pig trails because we're out in the country, but you know, like ATV accessible only. So you know, a lot of our back roads are still blocked or have sinkholes. So I'm not sure that FedEx is out and about yet. Amazon has not been delivering here yet, although Amazon is a good option. Probably maybe next week Amazon would be great.
Speaker 5:But that's a thought, because if somebody just wants to buy something on Amazon and have it, directly shipped to you, they could do that.
Speaker 4:Yes, yes, I would just suggest waiting a day or two, because every package that was ordered prior to the hurricane has not been delivered yet.
Speaker 5:All right, we'll hold off on that one.
Speaker 4:Yeah, maybe next week try Amazon, but not this week.
Speaker 3:And we'll check back with you. We'll record it next week try Amazon, but not this week, and we'll check back with you. So we'll record a next week's podcast. We'll make an announcement with that, you know where we're at.
Speaker 5:I also seen a note here about children's clothing that you know. Obviously the need is great for everyone, but children's clothing and children's things is something that's really desired.
Speaker 4:It is and I guess I should explain that a little more. Our schools obviously have been closed but they are going back to school in Henderson County starting next Tuesday. So we're trying to get kids clothing so that these children that have lost their houses don't have to miss school because they aren't dressed appropriately and not passing dress code, which our public schools don't have, like uniforms, but obviously they have dress code. So we're trying to find clothing for the kids because kids can be mean and kids can be bullies and we don't want anybody to have to go through that after they've lost everything.
Speaker 5:No, that's a very thoughtful, that's a well thought out thing, the whole process right there, from beginning to end. Thank you.
Speaker 3:So winter clothes, clothes in general for kids. Let's help break this down a little bit. Talk about Tabitha, April either one. Dj, you got anything to add?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm writing a list. Now I got school supplies. I'm thinking about for myself School supplies, you know, even stuff that kids take to school.
Speaker 4:You know school bags, yeah lap packs and pencil pouches and yeah, all the things They've lost, all the stuff, yeah, shoes and sneakers, and we take it for granted every day. I mean, you know, toothbrushes and toothpaste and dental floss, and we take it for granted every day.
Speaker 1:I mean you know, toothbrushes and toothpaste and dental floss. That's what I wrote down doily trees.
Speaker 4:Yeah, we take it for granted and you don't realize what you've lost until you've lost it. So I would a variety of children's clothing from, you know, infant to probably 18 years old. I know that's a big variety of clothing but you know, if you think about a teenage girl that and you're like, you see something you're like, oh, a teenage girl would like that, that's the kind of thing that we need Backpacks, pencils, just simple things that several of our schools have been flooded also.
Speaker 3:And you're giving that to people you know through your church, the community, etc. Correct?
Speaker 4:Yes, yes, we are donating everything that we got to people that we know are in need.
Speaker 3:Awesome. That's part of the reason I know we don't know each other real well. Met at the show years ago, I remember that. But you know, we're Facebook friends, so you kind of get a feel for people and I know you folks are very family-oriented just from you know, seeing you on Facebook et cetera.
Speaker 5:Cap's telling a few years back he actually won a class seat from us. Oh yeah. We asked him if they'd win a class seat Supporting the North Carolina Association.
Speaker 3:That's right, that's right.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 3:So that's why I'm super stoked to help support this thing and excited to have you'all on the podcast, because I know that this is when I, when I try to help something, to be able to help directly telling family to the community, I think is one of the best things, and we appreciate it.
Speaker 4:You don't understand just how much we appreciate it. I just just think it's amazing that you even considered having me on the podcast. I'm truly just nobody who is?
Speaker 5:You are Tabitha, tabitha. Right now you're everybody.
Speaker 4:Thank you, I appreciate it. I'm just trying to do what I can do. It may not be a huge impact for me or for somebody You're never going to know what impact you're putting on or having on people.
Speaker 5:You're never going to know that You're going to give these things out and it's going to be away from you and you're never going to understand the full extent of what you've done and you can't possibly know that. But there's going to be somebody, like you said, that gets stressed and goes to school and they're not going to have. They may have had a bad day and a bad week and a bad month because of these storms, but at least when they're at school and they're with their friends, they're going to feel okay when they're there. You're never going to know that, because they're not going to even know that you gave it to them.
Speaker 4:You're never going to know. They're not going to know, and that is perfect. That is perfect because I don't need them to know. I just want to help where I can help.
Speaker 3:That's my goal. Well, you definitely have filled a void here.
Speaker 3:Like I say, we believe in people helping people, so being able to get it to you where I know you're going to get it to those in the community that need it and it's not going to go to waste is why I'm willing and able and want to jump fully behind this and I wholeheartedly. I was blessed to just teach a class in Oregon very humbling to go all that far to teach a class. But we were out there and people in the class. I think we motivated them that they were going to fill up some boxes and send and I challenged everybody to send to a class with me and really I challenged the 16,000 listeners. Everybody can go to their closet and find something and a lot of you are looking to do something more than that. Go down to the camping supply, buy a decent tent, sleeping bag, et cetera. We'll get it sent out. Let's get that address one more time. Nice and slow for everybody, tabitha, do you mind?
Speaker 4:Not at all. It is 502 South Whitted Street, w-h-i-t-t-e-d, hendersonville, north Carolina, 28739 and that's for Caps Auto Tilling yes, should they drive something to that effect?
Speaker 3:that would be perfect. And folks, again I ask you to take a moment right on the outside of the box to give an idea of what's coming in, because they're going to be overwhelmed. I hope and pray, and I think we can. Folks, we'll get a UPS trailer dropping off up there, not a package car, poor stuff. You can find it in your heart. These are folks that really need help. You heard it from the horse's mouth. We didn't put you on the spot. We didn't discuss anything. We discussed here beforehand, did we?
Speaker 4:We did not.
Speaker 3:I was very nervous, no, but I just appreciate you giving us the honest scoop of what you see with your eyeballs and what's going on up there.
Speaker 4:That's what I appreciate Everybody listening. It's amazing to be able to let people know what is being done and what is happening. I appreciate it.
Speaker 3:Well, we appreciate you. We plan on having you back on. So, listeners, I want you all to step up. Let's get some stuff together. Get Chip to her and April, what can you tell us?
Speaker 5:I'm going to tell you that I'm going to white track staff coupon like crazy and I want to be sending some more stuff to them and we're cleaning our closets out right now.
Speaker 3:Yeah, my wife is one of those crazy coupon ladies, so we're going to be sending a bunch of her stash up there. And, Tabitha, we appreciate what you're doing. Dj, what do you got to say to us?
Speaker 1:Well, I want to tell all our listeners that this is a week project for today, but it's going to be one for Thanksgiving. It's going to be one for Christmas. It's going to be one for the first of the school year. It's going to be next September.
Speaker 1:We still got to be helping these families this is going to be a long recovery and I'm in for the long haul me too, dj me too so I think maybe I could do an article in the three magazines I write for and I think I would like to have Tabitha on one of my recycler podcast calls. Oh yes, and what we did for Tommy Luciano. Just have all these people go through their cars. See Tabitha in the recycling business. People drop off cars and they leave clothes in the car so I think we'll make this a campaign for Wes Wilburn, because Wes Wilburn is one human being that has a gigantic heart.
Speaker 3:EJ, you're too kind, you really are, sir well, you are and I'm proud to be your partner.
Speaker 1:I'm your partner in crime. I will be happy to participate with you, my friend.
Speaker 3:I love you, dj, I love everybody. I appreciate y'all. We've run a little bit long but, boy, this was a really good podcast. We're going to have you back on in April. We're going to be touching base with you for weekly updates see how we're doing with this project. We're going to have you back on in April. We're going to be touching base with you for weekly updates to see how we're doing with this project.
Speaker 5:And I'm going to say that if anybody listens this whole way through and you have a dry eye, you got a cold heart, because this was very, very emotional.
Speaker 3:Thank you for listening, Tabitha. Thank you for being here Until next time. You're welcome, Derek. Thank you.