A mother-daughter duo in a western North Carolina to close their small business at the end of September to turn it into a full-time relief center to help their community recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Now, more than a month later, they tell Fox News Digital that their goal remains the same as it was on day one: to give hope to all those affected for as long as it takes.
Jen Byland and her daughter Taylor Lonon wasted no time in transforming Jimmy & Jean’s Family Entertainment and Arcade, their 70,000-sq.-ft. family entertainment center, to the largest distribution center in Ashe County, where families can also recharge and receive hot meals.
“We didn’t want to do it,” Taylor told Fox News Digital. “We started it, we came to assess our damage the day after the hurricane and found out we had electricity, water, internet, a working kitchen and a big space for the kids to run around in.”
When Taylor suggested opening the business to their local football team, Jen went one step further: she opened to all of Ashe County.
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Talyor Lonon and Jen Byland are co-owners of Jimmy and Jeans Family Entertainment and Arcade in Ashe County, North Carolina. (Taylor Loon)
“Within five days, our 70,000-square-foot warehouse was completely stocked,” Taylor said. “We’ve now received donations from 38 states. And they keep coming.”
The mother and daughter lead a team of volunteers who collect and distribute much-needed supplies not only to their community and others in the state, but also to other affected communities in Virginia. and Tennessee which suffered when the storm hit on September 26.
Donations came from 38 states. (Taylor Loon)
About 300 to 400 families stop by daily for supplies or hot food, Jen said, adding that two weeks ago, the number of people directly helped reached about 4,200.
The mother-daughter duo uses their 70,000-square-foot business as a distribution distribution center. (Taylor Loon)
But the pair were not the only ones who stepped up to help.
“We have a couple, husband and wife, who were here from Canada,” Jen said. Others came from as far away as Texas, Colorado and California to take center stage.
After the storm, volunteers from all over the country came to help Jimmy and Jeans. (Taylor Loon)
“There were other groups coming from all over the United States for the week and it was like they didn’t want to leave,” Jen said. “They walk in and say, ‘OK, I’m coming back. I’ll be back in a month.’
Taylor said that in the rural area where they live, it is often difficult for many to ask others for help.
“We live in a very rural area and there are a lot of proud people,” she said. “And it’s hard enough to get them through our doors, you know, it takes a lot for them to ask for anything, especially the stubborn farmers, you know their farms have been destroyed and they don’t want to ask for anything.”
Volunteers also provide affected families with a warm meal and a chance to recharge their batteries. (Taylor Loon)
“It’s very sad,” Taylor continued. “And it hurts you to see the amount of emotion that goes through our building in a day. But it’s amazing to watch them. They come in here and they laugh and they smile and they get what they need and they leave with like, just a little bit more hope, you know.”
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Jen and Taylor say the requested items include battery heaters for those who have lost their homes and are living in tents, flu and cold remedy and items for the remodeling phase, such as dehumidifiers, construction gloves and tools, and bleach to remove mold.
“Think about it, okay, my house is damaged. What do I need to get it back? And those are the needs we’re trying to meet right now,” Jen said, adding that basic needs like food and water are pretty much met. A list of current needs is posted on the Jimmy & Jean’s Family Entertainment and Arcade Facebook page.
The center distributes supplies throughout North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. (Taylor Loon)
When Fox News Digital asked the duo what would happen to their business if it remained closed, Jen and Taylor said they’ve teamed up with a nonprofit for cash donations to help cover expenses, and the company has offered to match donations dollar for dollar per dollar up. to $250,000.
“When people say, well, what do you need? What are your needs? And our response is that as long as the supplies are coming in and we can keep the lights on, we’re going to stay open and continue to not only serve our community, but any community that needs it,” Taylor said.
Jen said the team is in it for the “long haul” and is already planning Project Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as creating his own non-profit organization called Hub of Hope.
“We give hope,” Jen said. “Everybody that comes in here, our goal is for them to leave with a little more hope than they came in the door with.”