Eli Drinkwitz shares a heartfelt message from Boone, western North Carolina, following Hurricane Helene

Before starting his career as Missourihead coach, Eli Drinkwitz spent a year as head coach at Appalachian Statewhere he went 12-1 and became fully established in the community.

Now that same community is dealing with the effects of Hurricane Helene, which caused widespread flooding and destruction in the Boone, North Carolina area.

“Yes, I just want to start by saying that my hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the people of Western North Carolina,” Drinkwitz said in a statement opening Monday’s news conference. “Of course, my wife and I and family spent some time in Boone, North Carolina, and it was very difficult for us to see the destruction caused by the hurricane.”

Hurricane Helene’s death toll has now surpassed 130, with many in western North Carolina still cut off. There is no electricity or cell service in some places, leaving many people in a desperate condition.

“I know these people are very resilient, but they could definitely use our help,” Eli Drinkwitz said. “I know I retweeted a tweet by Shawn Clark today includes a link to donate to Boone residents, especially App State University student-athletes and faculty. But there are plenty of people in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee who could use our help. So I definitely want to pay attention to them and let them know that they are not forgotten and that our prayers are with them.”

The Missouri State football team said goodbye this week with the intention of improving after being sidelined Vanderbilt in the overtime competition.

But Eli Drinkwitz’s thoughts were in the Carolinas, where the brief but strong relationships he built with the people of Boone endured.

“Honestly, I contacted a few of them, I tried to contact a few people on Saturday and Sunday,” he said. “But cell service was limited and I got no response. I got some answers today. People from our old neighborhood, friends from our old neighborhood who were affected by the flood, and of course the photos of downtown Boone made me feel sick.

There’s a photo of a flooded Walmart, there’s a photo of a Boone golf course with eight feet of water. And just knowing the communities there and the places where people lived, just knowing that the houses were destroyed. I think it’s probably a really hard thing because – I don’t think, I know this – there’s a hurricane coming from the Gulf and you’ve kind of prepared for it, but to be in the mountains of western North Carolina and wake up one day, everything you have is going to flow down flood area, is unimaginable.”

Eli Drinkwitz highlighted some of the heroic actions already taken to help Boone residents. Still, more help is needed.

To this end, you can donate to the App State Disaster Relief Fund using the link above.

“And I know they desperately need supplies,” Eli Drinkwitz said. “You saw the good Samaritans. I saw where yesterday Joe Gibbs Racing donated his helicopter and flew supplies. Several people provided help by helicopter. I saw where NC State The player and his mother shipped U-Haul trucks and trailers. But Western North Carolinians are resilient and resilient, but they need our help now more than ever.”