“It’s just a humbling experience going down there and coming back. We’re dairy farmers ourselves, so it was pretty cool to deliver things to dairy farmers down there. I’m so thankful for everything people here have done,” said Rosenhammer who delivered items to a family dairy farm.

She stood next to the side of a North Carolina barn with a water line that was twice as tall as she is.

She said the experience strengthened her faith in humanity.

Rosenhammer said she quickly learned the need for financial and material donations continues in rural North Carolina.

Submitted photo Hurricane relief organizer Katie Rosenhammer of Sleepy Eye stands underneath a hurricane-induced flood high water mark on a dairy farm barn near Waynesville, N.C. Rosenhammer recently returned to Minnesota after riding to North Carolina in a three-semi convoy of relief items.

“I’m really excited and thankful to have the opportunity to collect and ship badly-needed items to North Carolina. I’m very excited about the number of children that helped their parents donate things or ask me if they can help,” she said.

Rosenhammer and her hurricane relief team included semi driver Scott Olson of Comfrey who drove a semi trailer load of hay from New Ulm to North Carolina in two days in early November and stayed overnight with a North Carolina family.

“The people were very kind, blue collar people, regular folk. Not prideful, not stubborn. Very hospitable and then some,” she said.

Rosenhammer said her convoy was stopped at the Tennessee-North Carolina line and escorted on Interstate 40 to their destination.

“We had no problems. Everything was good. We took 10 donation envelopes with checks for $255 each to 10 families,” she said.

Rosenhammer personally delivered bags of Bibles, U.S. flags, winter blankets to a VFW and personal messages written from local individuals.

“There are a lot of groups helping down there but specialists like licensed diesel and gas engine mechanics are needed. They need people to donate their time plus fuel, especially for propane heaters,” said Rosenhammer.

Needed hurricane relief items include building supplies such as drywall, hand power-tools, outdoor and shop heaters, wood burning stoves, dehumidifiers, laundry detergent, solar panels, chain saws, respirators, and 50 and 200 amp electrical panels.

Rosenhammer said hurricane relief donors wishing to sponsor a child for Christmas can contact HumanitarianConnectionServices@gmail.com.

“There are a lot of scams, but this is verified. They verify donors too, she said.

She said anyone wishing to donate to N.C. relief efforts can do so at Haywood Christian Ministries, Asst. Director Josh Fleenor, 150 Branner Ave., Waynesville, N.C. 28786.