Floyd County proclaims February 'Heart of Floyd' month to honor Bill St. Pierre’s disaster relief work

The Floyd County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation honoring Bill St. Pierre and the volunteer effort he led to assist Western North Carolina residents displaced by Hurricane Helene, declaring February 2025 as "Heart of Floyd County Month." The board read the proclamation and invited St. Pierre to speak about his relief work.

The proclamation cites volunteers’ work to raise funds, purchase campers and temporary shelter, rebuild homes, and remove debris. It thanked St. Pierre and “all residents who have come together to show the compassion and support that our community is known for” and encouraged county residents to engage in volunteering and acts of service during February.

St. Pierre told the board he began posting on social media after the storm and organized a volunteer effort that has included donated furnaces, dumpsters, trailers and camper units for people who lost homes. He described working on roads, culverts and property cleanups, and said fundraising expanded rapidly after a feature on a larger online platform.

On fundraising, St. Pierre said he had raised substantial sums on social media and that donations funded trailers and rebuilding work. “When they see their camper come rolling, they are so excited. They’re just like, ‘this is the best thing in the world,’” St. Pierre said, describing recipients’ reaction when campers arrived.

The board presented the proclamation and invited St. Pierre to provide contact and donation information; he said donation links are posted on his social pages and that checks could also be mailed. The board thanked St. Pierre and applauded the volunteer coordination that supported relief in affected areas.

Why it matters The proclamation is ceremonial but recognizes a local-led relief effort that supplied temporary housing and cleanup assistance after Hurricane Helene. The board’s action places the volunteer work on the public record and encourages community volunteering.

Provenance and supporting detail The proclamation text read in open session names St. Pierre, his business St. Pierre Woodworking and Sawmill, and describes the projects (campers, dumpsters, home rebuilding) that the county credited. St. Pierre provided first-hand descriptions of field work, donated equipment and fundraising totals in his remarks to the board.

Community contact St. Pierre said his GoFundMe and social pages contain donation links and that he would provide the county with mailing information for contributors who prefer to send checks.