When Hurricane Helene swept through the southeastern United States, its devastation hit hard in the small towns of Western North Carolina, where communities and local businesses faced challenges. Among the hardest hit was SylvanSport, an adventure gear company based in Brevard, NC, known for its innovative outdoor equipment. Yet, in the midst of this crisis, SylvanSport has demonstrated resilience and a steadfast commitment to supporting the community through action.
In an exclusive interview with Modern Campground, Tom Dempsey, founder and CEO of SylvanSport, shared the company’s experience as the storm approached. “It hit early on a Friday morning,” he recalls, “and for nearly a week afterward, most of our region had no internet, cell service, or other means of modern communication.”
For SylvanSport, the priority was clear: ensuring the safety of their employees. Despite the communication breakdown, Dempsey emphasized, “Our first priority was to account for each SylvanSport associate, their families, and their homes…We then turned toward addressing the immediate needs of our families and community for water, food, and shelter.”
One of the company’s responses was also the launch of the “SylvanSport Strong” campaign. Through this initiative, SylvanSport has released a t-shirt, with 100% of the proceeds going toward local recovery efforts.
“At times like these, we believe that it is our duty to use our capabilities to help each other,” Dempsey explained, noting that the response from the broader community has been heartening. “Our community, both near and far, has responded well to the campaign and feels it to be a meaningful connection to an area that has experienced so much devastation.”
But for SylvanSport, helping isn’t just about fundraising. The company has doubled on its long-standing commitment to supporting small and local businesses in the region. As Dempsey shared, “We have always worked to partner with, and source from businesses that are as close to our home as possible. Now, this need is more than ever.”
For many businesses in Western North Carolina, the hurricane has been catastrophic, with some closing their doors permanently. SylvanSport has been using its platform to encourage customers to support these businesses during the recovery phase.
Balancing business recovery with community support has been a challenging tightrope for SylvanSport. The company, like many others, saw its operations disrupted, with Dempsey highlighting the first 10 days post-hurricane as a period focused on “survival and keeping families intact and safe.” However, keeping employees paid and the business operational has been a critical part of their strategy, even as they make room for their staff to contribute to recovery efforts.
“So, we are flexible in balancing our need to continue operations – both sales and manufacturing, with the need for individuals to serve the community and family. This is normally a slow season for the outdoor industry, and Hurricane Helene has just compounded the challenges,” Dempsey told Modern Campground.
Looking to the future, SylvanSport is committed to long-term recovery efforts. They have partnered with Transylvania Habitat for Humanity’s Hurricane Helene Relief Fund and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, pledging 10% of gear sales to aid in these initiatives. “We have always endeavored to stay strongly connected to our community, and now is no different,” Dempsey emphasized.
The outdoor community, both locally and nationally, has also rallied in response to Hurricane Helene. SylvanSport’s connections within the industry have allowed them to collaborate with fellow outdoor businesses that have also been impacted, while customers from across the country have stepped up to support relief initiatives.
For those looking to contribute, SylvanSport encourages visiting their website to explore opportunities to help or purchase gear, with the assurance that proceeds will directly support those affected by the hurricane.
As Dempsey concluded, “This is a long haul… and the needs will continue for months to come.”
For more information about SylvanSport, visit sylvansport.com