Supporting Western NC Communities in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
[HICKORY, NC] – OS1st, a Western North Carolina-based company renowned for its premium performance socks and sleeves, is dedicated to supporting the communities most impacted by Hurricane Helene. The company is actively involved in providing supplies, financial support, and raising awareness to facilitate both immediate and long-term recovery efforts in the mountain regions that have suffered greatly from the storm.
“We’re deeply moved and troubled by the images of devastation just up the mountain from us, about 45 minutes west along Highway 40, where the effects are catastrophic. That’s where our efforts are focused,” said Josh Higgins, President of OS1st. "We’re incredibly lucky that our immediate impact was contained to power outages and minor water disruptions. However, many of our staff, based in areas like Connelly Springs, Valdese, and Morganton, are still waiting for services to return,"
As a part of the immediate relief effort, OS1st donated clean water and $37,500 of socks to organizations delivering supplies to hard-to-reach areas of the mountains via local airports and churches.
"As soon as images started to show up on social media showing the widespread devastation of the flooding, Hickory sprang into action, and I’m proud to say our staff did as well,” Higgins said. "The Hickory, Concord, and Statesville airports have all served as donation sites for pilots and volunteers delivering aid to smaller mountain towns and running critical SOS rescues."
In addition, all proceeds from the OS1st Good Morning America Deals and Steals flash sale, which aired on the national morning news program October 3, will go to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund.
"We feel strongly in using our platform as a global company with connections far beyond our region to bring awareness to the devastation and long road to recovery our mountain community faces,” says Higgins. “We were privileged to be able to use some of our on-air time to accomplish that and appreciate the folks who helped make that happen.”
As part of their ongoing commitment, OS1st is launching a "Buy 1, Give 1" sock donation program with their local retail partner, Charlotte Running Company. For every pair of socks purchased, another will be donated to those impacted by the hurricane. They are also collaborating with St. Pete Running Company in their efforts to raise relief funds for Pinellas County in Florida. This partnership reflects their dedication to assisting those in need and contributing to the recovery efforts.
"We believe in giving back to the communities that sustain us," said Higgins. "Supporting independent retailers and small businesses is at the core of who we are. These businesses help build healthy, active communities, and now it’s our turn to help rebuild those communities.”
Retailers affected by Hurricane Helene can fill out this form for additional support from OS1st https://forms.office.com/r/VC8RJ2RhZj.
For more information on how you can support the recovery efforts visit https://www.nc.gov/disaster-relief-fund-faqs.
About OS1st®
Founded on the principles of innovation and performance, OS1st is a leading authority in sock technology, dedicated to enhancing the lives of athletes and individuals alike through purpose-driven design. With a steadfast commitment to excellence, OS1st continues to revolutionize the industry with cutting-edge solutions tailored to elevate performance and promote overall well-being. OS1st is the fastest growing sock brand in U.S. specialty retail and trusted by thousands of independent running stores across the United States.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Lee
Director of Marketing, OS1st
Phone: 828-320-9370
Email: slee@ingsource.com