ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Gary Sellers lives in High Point. His son Jason Sellers lives in Asheville.
Gary is proud his son Jason has turned one of his Asheville restaurants into a place where folks can pick up a hot meal, free of charge. He's been doing so since Helene devastated the Asheville community.
Jason said you can never underestimate the power of a hot meal, "when you can come together around food, it just soothes everything and makes everything better, if only for a moment," Jason Sellers said.
It's something Jason has been living by since Helene hit western North Carolina. He's lived in Asheville for 20 years and has owned restaurants there for nearly 15, currently owning Plant and Pulp + Sprout.
Luckily, neither of his vegan restaurants were damaged by Helene, so he's been able to give food away at his restaurant called 'Plant'.
"I am going to sleep every night thinking about people who were less lucky than I and that's why we just keep getting up and doing it everyday cause… if you can, you should," Jason Sellers said.
Gary Sellers is proud beyond words, not shocked by his son's actions.
"I'm not at all surprised…" Gary Sellers starts choking up, "and that's Jason, it's always, 'what can i do to help?'" Gary Sellers said.
He said his son's willingness to help, even complete strangers in some cases, has moved him.
"What I'm just so proud of is the way he's put himself as part of the community. His first thought was, 'what can i do to help?'" Gary Sellers said.
Both men think about the future of western North Carolina and efforts to rebuild.
"I mean, it's just the total devastation… I don't know how they're gonna do it," Gary Sellers said.
Jason said his biggest problem right now is not being able to get get back to business entirely. He said he's just thankful that he still has his restaurant.
"It's much easier to close a restaurant than it is to rebuild a restaurant and I know how devastated my fellow restaurants owners are who lost literally everything in the storm," Jason Sellers said.
Jason said he's going to keep giving out food for as long as he can.
He said the need is so great right now in Asheville, that over the past week, he's ordered more food to give away.