SUPPORTING POLK COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS
(While they continue to ignore us and let this place die...)
Polk County needs to quit lying to itself!
Allow me to hop on my soapbox for just a second here....
Polk County has a displaced/homeless problem and refuses to see it.
Worse, they have no place for them!
At the time of writing this... we have been in business barely over 3 years...
In that time, we have dealt with the following....
1. A young teen girl with nowhere to go, kicked out by parents:
Unfortunately, she was our first. We were unprepared. She was upset and embarassed and left before we could really talk.
To this day, I have no idea whtever happened with her. I know it was cold and wet out.....
2. Soon after, a older man with transportation asking for work of any kind:
I had no funds to pay him for anything. He wanted to try Lake Lure and I asked him to come back afterwards.
I had only the beginnings of some contacts I could call and tried them while he was away.
I told him he could park in my lot, fee of worry and charge, us my electric and water. He never came back.
3. A man, low thirties, having marital problems with nowhere to go:
This one came here often enough, I could trust him. He stayed in a spare room I had until able to move back in with his lady.
4. A young man, low twenties, was evicted:
A soldier to be deployed in a few months, we housed him in the spare room until deployed.
Was also able to store his things until he thankfully returned.
5. A young man thrown out from a home with alcoholism and abuse:
Moved him into the spare room, eventually got him a job and provided all transportation.
Got him enrolled in food stamps.
Unfortunately, he eventually bailed on both jobs to run with old (bad influence) friends in another town.
6. A young family of three thrown out to the streets:
Moved them into the spare room, eventually found Dad a job & provided all transportation needs.
Got Mom on food stamps.
After almost a year, they found a place to move into.
7. Young man (#5) returns after realizing his mistakes:
YOU ONLY GET MY FULL SUPPORT & ENERGY ONCE
This time, I provided shelter with utilities only
Unfortunately, without transportation options.... progress is doubtful/ But he has a roof.
8. Two homeless gypsies walked in trying to walk to Myrtle Beach:
The Ultimate Basement Army (facebook friends) REALLY outshined on this one!
First had a Sheriff's officer come to check out their IDs for any warrants or potential threats. They were cleared.
Then housed them within The Ultimate Basement for a week while plans came together.
Next, facebook friends started dropping off food, clothes, dog food, etc like crazy!
Next, found an amazing fellow willing to drive them to Wilmington first coming weekend if gas could be covered
A money collection was started to cover gas costs for driver. These costs were covered!
I organized transportation for them to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministries who supplied them well!
After a hot meal of Jambalaya, they were delivered to Myrtle Beach next day!
9. A talented teen musician kicked out by his parents:
Housed him within The Ultimate Basement while basics were formulated.
Got him enrolled with food stamps through DSS.
A UB Army member made instant friends with him and eventually took him in.
He got a job in Hendersonville
10. Talented musician (Number 9) returns:
Turned out, rumors of mild drug use turned out to be true.
He eventually soured relations with his new host family to a dangerous level.
YOU ONLY GET MY FULL SUPPORT & ENERGY ONCE
Housed his belongings and managed to get him entered into a homeless facility near his job.
The shelter checks him daily for drug/alcohol use.
The future is up to him
11. A family of three generations of ladies (1 pregnant) running from the eldest's husband:
Spare room was already full with #6 & The Ultimate Basement was already housing #7
By sheer luck and coincidence, my wife & kids were leaving for a week in a few days.
Housed them in a spare room in my house on the family level
By the time the family returned, the seperate level spare room was empty
They now have their own place and the baby is due very soon!
Another Success!
From start to finish... less than 18 hours!!
AWESOME JOB ALL!!!
A lady asked for help on facebook.
A disabled, diabetic widow in need of a working refridgerator.
She was trying to keep up with ice in a cooler to keep food from spoiling for three months now.
In less than one hour, we had someone with a truck standing by and manpower ready to chip in!
Just needed a fridge...
Less than 12 hrs later, an amazing young lady had a fridge cleared through her parents!
Less than 18 hrs later, a surprisingly nice fridge was delivered, the old broken one removed and the new one was in and running!
GOD BLESS EVERYONE who HELPED and also those who CARED!!!
I am so grateful. Words can't explain how I feel, I am soooo LUCKY for having friends like you all.
I will never forget the kindness you all showed.
GOD performs miracles and I am having WONDERFUL ONE.
THANK YOU GOD in JESUS NAME.
We ACTUALLY DID IT!!
March 2011, I learned of a young lady who was about to have her house taken by the bank...
she, like so many of us, had a rough bump in life due to an ex and couldnt catch up.
She was making payments, but the bank started to refuse to take them until she could catch up completely.
In the sum of roughly $3,000.00.
On her own she was able to save almost $2,000 but the sand in the hourglass was about to run out.
I did some research.
She doesnt do drugs. Has a decent enough full time job AND works a second part time job as often as possible.
The part time job WISHES they could get her full time but cannot match or beat her pay at the other job. She doesnt blow her money going out and partying all the time etc.
Seemed to me that with one good helping hand, this lady could run on her own afterwards. She just needed that one boost.
So, The Ultimate Basement went to work with only three weeks to come up with over $1,000 in cash.
I reached out to all our Facebook friends! Over 2,300 of them!
If each friend only gave like... 30 cents, we would do it!
But they didn't. Only 31 seemed to read my posts on it...
However, those 31 came in BIG!!!
Some came in with as little as pocket change, some came in with over $100.00
Some were businesses!!
Sparkle City Records Scoops N More
SOME of them were bands that had played here before from all over the country!
The Most Beautiful Losers Henry Daggs Sleeping In Reverse
The End Result?
ON THE LAST POSSIBLE DAY
The bank recieved a check in full for all past due amounts!
There was even enough left over for her to treat herself out to a good dinner she didnt have to cook herself!
REACH FOR THE STARS
A BENEFIT SHOW
Meet Donna!
A graduating senior at Polk County High School (2011)
A soccer player, a MAJOR part of the school's marching band, an inspiration to her peers and all around go getter! 
Donna's dream is to join North Carolina's top marching band, Carolina Crown!
Only problem is.... it aint cheap!!!
Just to prove your serious, you must try out, pay in and attend a SERIES of monthly camps at $100 each!
So..... we held a benefit concert to help Donna pay the bills!
The bands Sonic Praise (Christian rock/punk) & Eating The Sun (Rock/Grudge) were good enough to play for FREE to help Donna and The Ultimate Basement gave OVER 100% of ALL money to Donna's mother to help cover some of the costs involved!
Donna and another lovely Crown hopeful even played some music pieces on their horns for us!
FREE ZUCCHINI???
At a GAME lounge???
You bet! We are here trying to be a benefit to the community as well as a hub for Polk County.
Polk County Farmers donated a BUNCH of zucchini to the Polk County Agriculture Extension office in the hopes that families at need could benefit from their surplus.
Lynn Sprague asked me if I could take a few cases to Sunny View in the hopes of finding some folks who could use the boost and appreciate Polk County Farmers generosity!
It fits right in line with our hopes to be a positive hub to the area.
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
RELAY FOR LIFE
BENEFIT
FEATURING
FOOLS 
ON SUNDAY April 1st, 2010
I will admit... I was extremely disappointed in Polk County on this one.
See the guy with the skull cap on? He was diagnosed with stage three throat cancer. He decided if he was going to go, he was going out doing what he truly loves!
He decided to hit the road and invited his old high school buddy to go with him. He said "Sure!" as long as he could bring his son, an 11 yr old prodigy!
What better day and way to host this band than to have FOOLS ON SUNDAY play on April Fools Day and to make it a fundraiser for Relay For Life!
It was listed in the paper and various other media! I was giving away over 80% of MY PROCEEDS!!
Only... no one showed up.
And after two months with a collection jar for Relay For Life, only $20.00 was collected. Our own Pam Wease took the measly amount to PCHS to add it to their efforts.
I SEA MONSTERS
CLOTHING DRIVE FOR THE NEEDY!
July 2009
Now... I can't take all the credit on this one.
The WONDERFUL guys from the now defunct band I SEA MONSTERS were collecting clothes for the needy during their 2009 summer tour. The response was so good, by the time they reached Polk County, their poor tour van was filled to capacity.
The band asked us if we could help out. So, under the promise that we would ensure the clothes would reach those in need, we took much of their collection under our roof.
Then we added to it!!
Oddly, getting someone to come GET it was a completely different experience...?
We contacted SEVERAL "charities" but it seemed as those no one was interested. So, we found some families on our own.
Finally, OVER a year later, in.... Feb of 2010... a very lovely lady from <?> came to pick up the clothes!
We have already started a new collection as well!! So, if you wish to add to it, please come and drop off what you dont need!
November 2008-2010
High Tech Heaven & The Ultimate Basement
were proud sponsors AND participants of the 2008 Polk County Toy Run.
Yes, that is a full sized, accessorized
ten speed bicycle with a helmet strapped
to the back of my motorcycle.
I am proud to add that this bicycle was
road-tested at over 70 mph and it handled
just fine!
The Polk County Toy Run is a wonderful
opportunity to give toys that will directly
benefit Polk County children and families.
Pictured is my son who, while freezing,
enjoyed the chance to ride along with me.
November 22nd 2008
High Tech Heaven & The Ultimate Basement held a benefit concert with The Nameless and Out Fade.
When I say it was a benefit concert, I don't mean that just "I" gave some of my proceeds. I mean these wonderfully talented young men also gave of their profits as well.
Together with Music for Unity, we were all able to give $100.00 (each) to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministies.
I have assisted Thermal Belt with computer & networking services in the past and couldnt think of a better group to recieve some help.
I wish we could have given more.
October 31st 2008
High Tech Heaven & The Ultimate Basement opened our doors to trick or treaters free of charge for Halloween.
We had music, games, contests and even a couple of Piñata’s! Candy and goodies were EVERYWHERE!
When you put smiles on faces such as this picture shows... well, you just KNOW your doing something right!
October 2008
Polk County High School's Tech Club was presenting a booth at their annual Wolverine Day hoping to raise money for their club.
So... they came to the biggest geek they knew (not counting themselves) asking for help with equipment and games.
October 18th 2008
High Tech Heaven & The Ultimate Basement offered free pumpkin carving lessons (or just a fun place/time to carve one while jamming to motown!) to any and all carvers.
Fun was had by all and the only cost was if you needed a pumpkin.
We had some exciting and talented folks!
October 20th 2008
By sheer luck (good or bad is debatable), I was one of the first few on the scene at this terrible event. (I only recall seeing two other people there when I rushed in.)
I tried to assist in any way possible and even rode the bus with them to the hospital.
I was so very impressed with these kids. As scared as they were, as horrific as it was watching the students and staff drop left and right, the kids really stuck together and fought back their fear.
I felt the need to honor them in some way. I made certificates commending them for their courage and kinship. The certificates also offered them a free day at my place.
No media was told, it was not a publicity item.
The certificates were given to school admins so the kids names could be added prior to handing them out.
As often happens though, no good deed goes unpunished. The school just passed out the certificates without even filling in the names.
So, naturally, I recieved xerox copies from kids who were not even there trying to get in free.
I tried..