In the days since Hurricane Helene hit the southeastern region of the U.S., many local RE/MAX affiliates have put real estate on the back burner and made relief efforts their full-time jobs as the communities they serve are in dire need.
The late-September category 4 storm’s path of destruction reached across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. Homes were damaged, roads were destroyed, entire towns were swept away and, sadly, the death toll has climbed to more than 200 people to-date.
Rescue and relief efforts are underway to save lives and get essential supplies to stranded areas – many left with no service, no power and no way out. To aid the efforts, several RE/MAX brokerages, agents and employees have stepped up to give back.
Collecting Essential Goods
RE/MAX Crossroads in Lincolnton, North Carolina, has played a major role in local relief efforts, and the brokerage is going above and beyond to demonstrate what it truly means to serve the community.
On September 29, Will Poteat and Wayne Brooks, Co-Owners of RE/MAX Crossroads, quickly sprung into action and turned their real estate office into a drop-off location for things like food, water, diapers, baby formula, hygiene items, pet food, insulin and more. Since then, members of the community – many still without power – have been encouraged to stop by and grab anything they need.

Will Poteat Photo – Hurricane Helene Efforts
Poteat has been using his truck, flatbed trailer and enclosed livestock trailer to haul essential supplies up treacherous roadways to impacted individuals in nearby locales. And, Brooks loaned his box truck to the Lincoln County Airport for their use of transferring supplies to affected areas. Lincolnton is close to many of the small towns hit hardest by the storm.
“There are entire communities completely gone,” Poteat says.
Other RE/MAX affiliates and offices throughout southeastern states and beyond have been boots-on-the-ground over the past week, too.
RE/MAX Southern Shores across South Carolina – headed up by co-owners Mandy Fulford and Renny Diedrich – are using multiple offices as collection sites for essentials. Their network of agents rallied together to collect hundreds of items, which were then sent with volunteers flying planes and driving trucks into impacted areas.
“It’s easy to wonder what difference one person can make. When you feel that way, I say, ‘Something is always better than nothing.’ We can move mountains when we all do our little parts together,” Fulford says.

RE/MAX Crossroads
Serving Communities Near and Far
Chris Terry is a great example of one person making a huge difference. Terry, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Properties Ltd. in Newtown, Pennsylvania, purchased whole pallets of supplies and made a road trip down to North Carolina. He brought 8,000 gallons of water and 2,000 lbs. of dog food, as well as other items like power generators.
These heroic actions just scratch the surface of the initiatives led by RE/MAX affiliates in the aftermath of such a sizable storm.
Members of the RE/MAX network across the U.S. and beyond are also providing monetary support to ongoing Hurricane Helene relief efforts by donating to the We Are RE/MAX Relief Fund, an account facilitated by RE/MAX World Headquarters. The account enables the brand’s community to financially contribute to the short-term displacement needs, as well as the long-term rebuilding needs, of RE/MAX affiliates in affected areas during times of tragedy.
To learn more about the We Are RE/MAX Relief Fund efforts and to donate, click here.
As Florida braces itself for Hurricane Milton, RE/MAX World Headquarters and the RE/MAX network will continue to support those who may be impacted.
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