Toms River Man Pays Help Forward In Supplies Airlift For Helene Victims

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Cody Coburn remembers the days after Superstorm Sandy devastated the Jersey Shore in 2012.

"I was in chest-deep water for a week," said Coburn, who was 16 at the time. He remembers that in the initial days after Superstorm Sandy, the bulk of the help he saw was average people coming to the aid of those facing the worst destruction.

Coburn also remembers how strangers stepped up to help him and his family in 2018, after he lost his leg in a horrifying motorcycle crash. He was 23 then and a father of two when his motorcycle collided with a Range Rover late on a Saturday night on East County Line Road in Lakewood. Thousands of dollars were donated to help with expenses.

That's why, when Coburn's sister told him about the devastation she has seen in the Carolinas from Tropical Storm Helene, he wanted to help.

Coburn is organizing a donation collection and airlift of items to western North Carolina and northwestern South Carolina, where hundreds of thousands remain without power and critical necessities following severe flooding caused by the hurricane.

Coburn's sister works for the Woodruff Township Police Department in South Carolina, not far from Asheville, North Carolina, where some of the worst destruction has been. Woodruff also is near Greenville, South Carolina, and there has been significant damage there as well. Federal help has not arrived yet, he said, similar to what he remembers of Superstorm Sandy.

"There are elderly and babies in that area, and they're not going to have power in that area for a month," he said.

Coburn, 29, who owns Cole Home Construction in Toms River, is coordinating with the Jersey Aero Flying Club— where his cousin is a member — to fly the donations to the Carolinas, where they will be dropped by helicopter to people who are isolated due to washed-out roads and downed trees.

Coburn said his sister has shared photos and videos from the area, and they show complete destruction.

"It's like if Farmingdale had 25 feet of water," he said. "Entire towns have been washed away."

One video in particular, showing footage from cameras facing the river in one town, was heartwrenching. In it a home goes past one of the cameras, floating down the river with what appears to be a family of four — mother, father, son and daughter — on the roof, Coburn said. Farther downriver the house is seen again. This time, only the little girl was still on the roof, he said. It's unknown for sure what happened to her family.

It struck a nerve with Coburn, who has suffered painful losses in the last six years. After treatment to recover from the loss of his leg, in 2021 he and his high school sweetheart suffered the loss of their 7-week-old son, who died of a bacterial infection in his lungs that causes heart failure. Coburn's mother died just weeks later, he said.

"I was in a really dark place," he said.

That's why he's driven to help the victims of Helene. He has been coordinating locally with the Surf City Volunteer Fire Company and Keller Williams Realty of Long Beach Island to collect donations, and they are collecting donations at Lakewood Municipal Airport, to then be loaded onto planes and flown to the Carolinas.

Six planes have been arranged through Jersey Aero Club, with two headed to Greenville, SC, and the other four to the Asheville area. Because so many areas are cut off with roads destroyed, critical items are going to be airdropped in by helicopter, said Coburn, who is coordinating with local, county and state authorities in the Carolinas to ensure the donations get where they are needed most.

As of Saturday morning, two planes have flown from Lakewood toward the Carolinas with donations, Coburn said.

The items most needed right now are blankets and camping gear, Coburn said Saturday.

They also are collecting medications such as Advil and Motrin, medical supplies like Band-Aids and bandages, flashlights and batteries, diapers of all sizes, wipes, baby food, baby formula, feminine hygiene products including pads and tampons, toiletries including toothbrushes and toothpaste and shampoo, flushable wipes, powdered milk, non-perishable foods such as pouch or canned tuna and chicken, can openers, granola bars, breakfast bars, dry cereal, and small bags of dog and cat food, he said.

Donations can be dropped off at the Lakewood Municipal Airport, 1900 Cedar Bridge Ave., Lakewood, from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Coburn said the planes will be loaded with lighter items, and he will be renting a trailer to attach to his truck to drive the heavier items to South Carolina. The goal is to head south next week, and potentially make an additional trip or trips until federal assistance is fully in place.

They welcome more volunteers to help transport items.

"Anyone else with a plane is welcome to show up," Coburn said, "and any trucks who want to show up, any size, are welcome."

Coburn said they also welcome monetary donations to assist with travel costs. Donations can be made via his Cole Home Construction CashApp account or contact him at 732-864-4340 for details.