Donald Trump Jr., Kristi Noem join Franklin Graham in gripped Helene North Carolina with Samaritan’s Purse

South Dakota Governor Christie Noem and Donald Trump Jr. joined Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse Friday to help airlift warm clothing to Hurricane Helen-ravaged North Carolina as temperatures plunged in the region.

Samaritan’s wallet, a Christian aid during disasters and evangelism organization, has been serving his home state of North Carolina since Hurricane Helen ripped through the Southeast in late September.

Noem joined Trump and Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse and son of the late Rev. Billy Graham, at the Bat Cave community near Chimney Rock on Friday afternoon.

SAMARITAN’S PURSE CONTINUES TO LEAD TO HELP NORTH CAROLINA AFTER DEVASTATING HURRICANE HELIN

Thanks to donations personally sent by KUIU’s Kirstin Hurston of California and Dan and Agatha Genter of Genter Capital Management, Samaritan’s Purse delivered more than 1,200 items of winter clothing to Bat Cave survivors, including winter jackets, fleece sweaters and pants, according to the release.

“Today was an amazing opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus and be a blessing to people with Samaritan’s Purse,” said South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital. “Today we saw the devastation of entire communities, who lost their homes and all their possessions and even lost their lives.

“So we’re not just here today — we’re not going to forget these people. They will need our help for weeks and years. They will still need us to pray for them and lift them up. And they will need an organization like Samaritan’s Purse to walk with them.”

As Election Day approaches, rural North Carolina residents and others are affected Hurricane Helen largely out of the news cycle. The highlands of western North Carolina have been particularly hard hit, with temperatures nearing freezing.

“So please don’t get distracted by it. There’s still a lot of work to do,” said Edward Graham, son of Franklin Graham and chief operating officer of Samaritan’s Purse, in an October interview with Fox News Digital. “And if people really want to help, I need volunteers for the long term.

“I need volunteers right now, but I need volunteers who show up in January, December, November, when it’s cold during the holiday season, when you’re warm with your family during the holidays. Think about those who in western north carolina it’s not like that.

SAMARITAN’S WALLET CONTINUES TO HELP HELENA WITH THREE WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Orange Shirts, or Samaritan’s Purse volunteers, served more than 3,000 families affected by Hurricane Helin by removing mud from flooded homes, cleaning up debris, clearing downed trees and covering damaged roofs.

Samaritan’s Purse also conducted the largest-ever civilian airlift operation to reach those in rural North Carolina whose roads were washed away with donations of emergency supplies and rescue aid. According to a release, the Christian humanitarian organization donated £700,000 to 80 communities in 357 airlifts.

“The people we met with today were very grateful that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Donald Trump Jr., Dan and Agatha Guenter and Kirsten Hurston came all the way from North Carolina to see them,” said the Rev. Franklin Graham in an exclusive statement. shared with Fox News Digital. “When you’ve lost everything but the clothes on your back, the fact that someone cares enough to come help means everything.”

“This area is 20 miles from where I grew up, and it wasn’t remote, but it is where it is today because it was cut off by Hurricane Helen. Many people now use 4WDs to travel but it was incredible to see People looking out for each other, amazing how people stepped up to help their neighbors at this difficult time,” added Graham.

In addition to the warm clothing donated Friday, Samaritan’s Purse donated generators, space heaters and fuel to Helen survivors. According to his son Edward, the Reverend Franklin Graham lost his heat after Hurricane Helen.

According to the release, Graham thanked the South Carolina governor and business leaders who donated warm clothing for Friday’s airlift aboard a Black Hawk helicopter.

“I couldn’t be more grateful to Gov. Kristi Noah for standing up for the people of North Carolina,” Franklin Graham said. So many have suffered incredible loss and pain, and I want them to know that they have not been forgotten. God loves them and takes care of them.”

Samaritan’s Purse provided winter clothing for 15,000 people in North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as generators, heaters, blankets, solar lanterns, food boxes and bottled water.

Disaster relief units, tractor-trailers stocked with tools and equipment, were deployed by Samaritan’s Purse in Asheville, Boone and Burnsville, North Carolina, as well as in Perry and Tampa, Florida, and Valdosta, Georgia.

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As of Oct. 30, FOX Weather has confirmed 101 deaths related to Hurricane Helen in North Carolina, bringing the seven-state total to 229.