Making sure the money gets to the right places. Sadly, many people whose lives were completely devastated by Hurricane Helene continue to feel the repercussions in a huge way. Of course, the historic storm wreaked havoc on most of Western North Carolina in September, leaving hundreds of families without homes, businesses, cars and more. It's unbelievable the devastation the floodwaters caused, and the recovery process will take years, at a minimum. I can't even really put into words how bad of shape so many small towns and communities are still in — the city of Asheville, the biggest in WNC, just got drinking water back a week ago... and with temperatures quickly dropping in the high country (it snowed in Boone last week), there are major concerns for people who are without heat, and many are sleeping in tents as they struggle to rebuild their lives with little help from the government. While FEMA has insisted there are no people living in tents in WNC, I can tell you firsthand as a North Carolina resident not too far away, that is far from true, and reporters from all over the country have been on the ground talking to people who are in that horrific reality right now: It is mind-blowingly insane to watch FEMA officials claim no one in #WNC is in tents while reporters are flying in from all over the country to INTERVIEW the people living in tents. Here's a reporter from SEATTLE interviewing a couple with kids living in a tent in Swannanoa NC. pic.twitter.com/K3ORWIxEKP — Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) November 24, 2024 There were also rumors that FEMA officials were told to avoid homes with Trump signs in the front yard, which FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington CONFIRMED. She said if FEMA team members felt uncomfortable going to a particular home, based on the political sign in the yard, they didn't have to go: https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1857163980017705139 I don't even really have words to accurately describe how bad it is, but having people with platforms like Eric Church and Luke Combs bring awareness to it all certainly helps. In October, they hosted their Concert For Carolina benefit show at Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, raising over $24 MILLION to help victims of the hurricane in their home state. They announced ahead of the show that ALL of the proceeds would be split 50/50 between Eric and Luke, going to charities of their choosing. Combs’ portion is being distributed between Samaritan’s Purse, Manna Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, while Church’s Chief Cares is focused on helping established charities and organizations that are well managed, organized and can expedite aid directly to the families affected by Hurricane Helene. And with growing concerns in the area over the approaching winter season, many are growing frustrated that not much is seemingly being done to help the people in WNC. Over the weekend, a fan took out their frustrations on Luke, sharing a post from when they raised all those millions of dollars were raised, tagging him and Eric in a tweet that said: "Helene storm victims of North Carolina want to know where the 24 million dollars that was raised in this benefit concert is at. They are wondering why people are sleeping in tents almost a month after this concert. Do you care to comment Luke Combs or Eric Church?" Helene storm victims of North Carolina want to know where the 24 million dollars that was raised in this benefit concert is at. They are wondering why people are sleeping in tents almost a month after this concert. Do you care to comment @lukecombs or @ericchurch? pic.twitter.com/6SE08DF7Tw — Nashville Angela (@angelanashtn) November 24, 2024 Another fan commented that they could help them figured out how "to spend it," implying that Luke and Eric hadn't distributed any of the money at all, or that it's not going to the right places: "If you are struggling to spend it Eric Church or Luke Combs I could help you." If you are struggling to spend it @ericchurch or @lukecombs I could help you. https://t.co/xE0bIA42T3 — Shawn Hendrix (@TheShawnHendrix) November 25, 2024 There were many more tweets like that, implying that Eric and Luke didn't handle the funds properly. And, as you can imagine, Luke didn't seemingly appreciate being accused of any of that, and responded, saying that his portion was already "split evenly" between Manna Food Bank in Buncombe County, Second Harvest Food Bank of Watauga County, Samaritans Purse, and Eblen Charities. He added that they are all "hyper local 501c3 Charities originating and operating in WNC," which is 100% true and some of the best, most legit places you can donate to make sure the money gets to residents in WNC that really need it. Luke did his homework in selecting them, and I was relieved to see the money wasn't going to a government-associated agency like the Red Cross when this was all first announced: "The portion of proceeds that I raised were split evenly between Manna Food Bank in Buncombe County, Second Harvest Food Bank of Watauga County, Samaritans Purse, and Eblen Charities. All hyper local 501c3 Charities originating and operating in WNC." The portion of proceeds that I raised were split evenly between Manna Food Bank in Buncombe County, Second Harvest Food Bank of Watagua County, Samaritans Purse, and Eblen Charities. All hyper local 501c3 Charities originating and operating in WNC. https://t.co/zc1fIPB2kO — Luke Combs ? (@lukecombs) November 25, 2024 Obviously people are frustrated, but barking at Luke Combs and Eric Church on Twitter, like they're supposed to go door to door and hand out checks, isn't doing anything to help the situation. The pair raised nearly 25 million dollars, and gave it a few "hyper local" organizations who are the best equipped to get it into the right hands. What's continuing to happen in Western North Carolina is truly heartbreaking, and I know Eric and Luke, two WNC natives, have only the best of intentions when it comes to helping their community — it just sucks that so many others don't, especially the people who should be on the front lines assisting to make sure no citizen is sleeping in a tent while snow falls and temperatures drop below freeing.