2024 A Look Back: First in flight award
After Hurricane Helene rocked the eastern reaches of Western North Carolina, Crystal Cochran sprang into action.
A resident of Sylva, mother and Gold Star military wife, Cochran jumped at the opportunity to aid in efforts by Operation Airdrop to get supplies into Western North Carolina and distributed to the hardest hit areas in the region.
‘Operation Airdrop’: Volunteers take to the skies to deliver disaster aid
Anyone on the internet knows that it can be a place of negativity and division. But it’s also a powerful tool for connection, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Crystal Cochran harnessed that connection to build a community of volunteers that provided vital assistance to thousands in Western North Carolina.
