Queen City Homestore Announces “Hope for the High Country: Part II,” Continuing Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts in Western North Carolina
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Victoria Alicea
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Queen City Homestore Announces “Hope for the High Country: Part II,” Continuing Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts in Western North Carolina
CHARLOTTE, NC — [May 2026] — Queen City Homestore is proud to announce Hope for the High Country: Part II, an upcoming community charity event continuing relief efforts for families and communities who are still working on recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene across Western North Carolina.
At Queen City Homestore, supporting neighbors goes far beyond selling appliances, furniture, and mattresses. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the company remains deeply committed to serving the High Country through hands‑on volunteerism, strategic partnerships, and long‑term recovery initiatives.
A Proven Commitment to the High Country
In 2024, Queen City Homestore partnered with No Child Hungry to launch Hope for the High Country, a large‑scale meal‑packing event created in response to the immediate needs following Hurricane Helene. The event mobilized more than 2,600 community volunteers, who packed over 500,000 meals, 10,000 hygiene kits, and 3,000 snack bags. The deployment lasted months, distributing meals, supplies and toys across the Carolinas to communities affected by the storm.
More information on the 2024 effort can be found at: https://www.nochildhungry.net/hope
National Recognition for Volunteer Leadership
In March 2025, Queen City Homestore owners Roddey Player, Sr., Kate Player, and Roddey Player, Jr. were honored with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for their leadership and service following Hurricane Helene.
The award was presented by William Lowry, Founder and President of No Child Hungry, during a presentation ceremony at Nationwide PrimeTime, a national convention for independent appliance, furniture, mattress, and electronics retailers. The Presidential Volunteer Service Award is a national civil honor recognizing individuals who demonstrate exceptional volunteerism and unwavering commitment to serving Americans in need.
Despite suffering flood damage to one of Queen City Homestore’s own locations, the Player family immediately turned their focus toward mobilizing aid and volunteers to support neighbors throughout Western North Carolina.
Reflecting on the recognition, Roddey Player, Sr., President & CEO of Queen City Homestore, shared: “We are incredibly honored to receive the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. This recognition belongs to the thousands of volunteers and our incredible team who came together when our communities needed help most. At Queen City Homestore, we strive to be known not just for what we do, but for the impact we make in the lives of the people we serve.”
Hope for the High Country: Part II
Today, Queen City Homestore is continuing its commitment to hurricane recovery with Hope for the High Country: Part II, an initiative focused on addressing ongoing food insecurity and the summer meal gap in the High Country.
Once again, Queen City Homestore is partnering with Feeding Avery Families and the Grandfather Foundation to support Avery County and surrounding communities.
Event Details:
- Location: First Baptist Church, 160 Cranberry St. Newland, NC 28657
- Dates: June 19 3- 5 pm for set-up, June 20 for meal packing and tear-down
- Volunteer Goal: 600 volunteers (set-up, 3 shifts 8:30, 11, 1:30, tear-down 3 pm)
- Meal Goal: 125,000 – 175,000 meals packed for families in need
Current Community Supporters: Hope for the High Country: Part II is made possible through the continued support and collaboration of trusted local organizations, including:
- Queen City Homestore
- Grandfather Community Foundation
- Wee Kirk Presbyterian Church
- Avery County Long‑Term Recovery Group
- All Saints Linville
- Chapel by the Lake
- First Baptist Church of Newland
How the Community Can Help
Volunteer / General Information:
Sign‑ups will open soon for Friday setup, Saturday meal‑packing shifts at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and afternoon cleanup. Opportunities are ideal for individuals, families, students, service organizations, and corporate groups. https://www.nochildhungry.net/hope2
Donate: Financial contributions allow meals to be provided at less than $0.70 per meal—meaning even a small gift can make a meaningful impact. A donation of $30 feeds a family of six for an entire week, with funds going directly toward purchasing ingredients to support local families. Donate here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/hopeforthehighcountrypart2/event/hopeforthehighcountrypart2/
Matching Donations: Can’t attend but still want to help? Queen City Homestore will match individual donations dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000—doubling the impact of every contribution.
Rebuilding Support
In addition to food relief, Queen City Homestore has a local representative actively working with charities and government resources to help residents replace essential appliances and furniture lost during Hurricane Helene. Contact Tim Dowell, Queen City Homestore,
Continuing the Mission
Queen City Homestore has partnered with No Child Hungry for nearly six years, supporting meal‑packing events, disaster relief efforts, and community‑driven initiatives. Hope for the High Country: Part II continues this mission — providing hands‑on support for neighbors and communities still working to recover months after the storm.
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About Queen City Homestore:
Founded in 1952 by Woody Player, Queen City Homestore is the largest independent appliance retailer in the Carolinas. Led by Roddey Player, the company serves the Charlotte DMA, the Triad, Raleigh-Durham, Morganton (Burke County), and the upstate of South Carolina, Columbia and Aiken. Queen City stores feature state-of-the-art appliances featuring refrigeration, washers, dryers, cooking, electronics, mattresses, furniture, outdoor cooking, grills, and more from over 70 brands. With a 104,000 square foot warehouse, Queen City ensures fast delivery or pick up on thousands of in-stock models. In addition to retail sales, the company is also proud to offer expert assistance through its inside and outside commercial builder teams, as well as a robust online e-commerce platform. Dedicated to exceptional customer service and quality, Queen City continues to build lasting relationships with customers, offering expert advice, installation, and ongoing support. Visit QueenCityOnline.com for more information.
