ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Blossman Gas & Appliance will host a propane drive Saturday at the closed Ingles location in Swannanoa to assist residents still recovering from Tropical Storm Helene or those in need of propane for heating and cooking.
The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20.
Participants must bring their own propane cylinders, the company said. The drive is limited to up to 90 pounds of propane transported in a passenger vehicle or one 100-pound cylinder transported in a truck or open trailer. All federal, state and local codes governing the filling and transportation of propane cylinders will be followed and enforced, officials said.
Blossman General Manager David Lipe said the company began providing emergency propane services immediately after Helene struck the region last year, supplying fuel for generators, cooking and water heating. As colder weather arrived in late October 2024, Blossman partnered with local relief agencies to continue assisting residents in need.
“Today, 15 months after the storm, many people in Buncombe County, primarily in the Swannanoa Valley and surrounding areas, still require assistance with propane for heating and cooking purposes,” Lipe said. “This propane drive aims to connect with those people.”
According to Buncombe County officials, specific numbers are not readily available regarding how many county residents remain unhoused or are living in campers as a result of the storm.
“We do have data that shows that there are 225 temporary use permits for housing throughout the county, so this number includes temporary RV units,” Communications and Public Engagement Officer Johanna Cano said.
Lipe said the company has coordinated with local relief agencies to help spread the word and expects to serve several hundred residents during the event.
Blossman Gas & Appliance is based in Asheville and operates under the motto, “Local People Servicing Local People,” he said.