• Stephanie Chastain

"The Beaves: Pensacola, North Carolina's Four-Wheeling Hero"

Pensacola, NC - In the tiny mountain town of Pensacola, NC, with just about 600 residents, Hurricane Helene left a lasting mark. Weeks after the storm, Gerald Beaver, known affectionately as "The Beaves," found his town completely cut off from the outside world. Roads were washed away, debris was everywhere, and with no power or water, the people of Pensacola were relying on helicopter drops from the National Guard just to survive.

 

But for Beaves, waiting around wasn't an option.

 

Over the mountain in a nearby community, The Salvation Army had set up mobile feeding services to provide hot meals to the storm’s survivors. One day, up rolls Gerald on his trusty four-wheeler, a beacon of hope on wheels. He approaches The Salvation Army team with an urgent request: “We’re trapped. My whole town. No one’s been in or out for days, and we haven’t had a hot meal in weeks.”

 

The Salvation Army team, always ready to help, faced one major challenge: the roads to Pensacola were blocked. But The Beaves, with a grin, wasn’t having any of that. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I’ll get you in.”

 

That evening, with the sun setting behind the rugged mountains, The Salvation Army team geared up. With Gerald leading the charge on his four-wheeler, they followed him over mountains, through half-washed-out roads, and even down makeshift paths through the woods. It was an adventurous trek, but thanks to The Beaves’ fearless spirit, they made it to Pensacola.

 

Once there, Gerald didn’t stop. He loaded up his four-wheeler with hot meals from the Salvation Army and began delivering them to his neighbors, many of whom lived in remote, hard-to-reach places. With each trip, he ensured that the people of Pensacola not only had food but also a renewed sense of hope and community.

 

In the face of devastation, Gerald Beaver became more than just a resident of Pensacola—he became a local legend. With his four-wheeler and can-do attitude, "The Beaves" reminded everyone that even in the darkest times, one determined person can light the way.