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Powersports Business • November 2024 • 7

Bobby Sullivan is a successful businessman who knows how to make things happen for his company , Sullivans Inc ., which distributes Joe Rocket , HJC , and other apparel bands . He also knows when it ’ s time to help others , and that ’ s why he is donating hundreds , if not thousands , of snow gear products to victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina .

Sullivan contacted PSB to tell us that the situation in Ashville and other remote areas affected by Hurricane Helene made him think of ways to help . Sullivan ’ s team has enlisted the help of a local rep to get the items directly to the victims .

“ It ’ s heartbreaking what ’ s going on up there in North Carolina ,” says Sullivan . “ We wanted to do something to help them out , so we will donate all of our snow jackets to the victims , some of whom are still without power and water in the more remote areas .”

Sullivan says that after watching the news and seeing the devastating effects , he knew he had to get involved . The inventory he is sending is worth about $ 200,000 , and he hopes other distributors will get involved and do something similar .

OEMs and dealers have been pitching in , too . Honda recently announced a $ 500,000 donation to Hurricane Helene victims , and Polaris is donating vehicles and supplies , including generators and ATVs .

Just outside of Ashville , NC , is a Harley- Davidson dealership that has been damaged on the inside . However , the parking lot and other shelter areas are being used as a command center and distribution point for some of the agencies involved in getting aid to people in the area .

According to the National Weather Service , Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area of the Florida Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm late in the evening of September 26 . Helene ’ s largest impacts , however , were across the southern Appalachians , where widespread severe and unprecedented flooding occurred with hundreds of fatalities and billions in property damage . Strong wind gusts damaged property and blew trees and power lines down from the Gulf Coast to the North Carolina mountains .

Sullivans enlisted the help of a former rep , Rueben Bakker , who lives in the area and is assisting in the recovery efforts . Bakker surveyed the affected areas on his BMW since most of the roads are washed out . Photo courtesy of Rueben Bakker , Facebook

On behalf of the Honda family of companies in the U . S ., Honda is donating $ 500,000 in needed disaster relief funds to the American Red Cross to support those impacted by Hurricane Helene . The donation will enable the American Red Cross to respond to and help people recover from this disaster across the affected region , which is also the home of Honda manufacturing operations and its associates . North Carolina-based Honda Aircraft is providing HondaJet to transport humanitarian relief aid to the hard-hit areas of the region .

In addition to the corporate disaster recovery donation , Honda and Acura Financial Services are offering payment extensions and lease deferrals to customers impacted by the natural disaster .

Honda is also offering its associates an opportunity to join the hurricane relief effort through its matching fund and volunteer programs . Honda will match eligible donations on a dollar-for-dollar basis , up to a maximum of $ 1,000 . Additionally , the company will provide up to $ 200 in grants to eligible organizations when associates volunteer .

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