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October 02, 2024
Aaron Benjamin and Joey Polonsky were profiled in an American Lawyer Daily Report story about their efforts to help North Carolina communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.
The article, “Cadwalader Partners Travel By Land, Air to Help Resupply Flood-Ravaged North Carolina,” spotlights the important work of Operation Airdrop, a nonprofit dedicated to providing rapid relief to communities impacted by natural disasters by mobilizing volunteer pilots and a diverse fleet of aircraft to deliver essential supplies to areas cut off from traditional aid routes.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Aaron and Joey took different routes to transport supplies to flood victims and volunteers Tuesday in the hard-hit region. Aaron helped pilot a friend's Piper Cherokee 235 aircraft filled to its maximum flying weight with supplies to remote Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Joey kept tabs on Aaron while driving an eight-hour round trip from Charlotte to Hendersonville, North Carolina, in his personal vehicle filled with supplies that ranged from baby wipes to 60 gallons of fuel for volunteers who were distributing donated supplies in the Asheville area.
Both noted the personal impact of the storm and Cadwalader’s commitment to helping communities in need.
Aaron shared that his daughter is a student at University of North Carolina at Asheville, where she was without power and cell service but made it safely home. "I haven't had an opportunity to do that before," he said. "Having something like this hit so close to home, it's just if there was a way to get involved and help."
Joey, an Asheville native, gathered donations in Charlotte before driving throughout the day Tuesday "full as I could" with supplies to Hendersonville, North Carolina, followed by visiting his parents, who live south of Asheville and have been without power and running water since the storm hit.
Joey also shared that 20 of the 60 gallons of gas he transported in about 25 fuel containers were donated by Cadwalader lawyers after he sent emails out telling them he was traveling to the region.
"I said, 'Hey, we're doing this,' and the immediate question back is, 'How can we help?' from the firm," he said.
Read the article here.
