Creation Care & Loving Our Neighbors

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we swiftly mobilized to provide essential support to communities affected by the storm. Our dedication to environmental stewardship is intertwined with our commitment to caring for our neighbors in times of need. Here’s an overview of our accomplishments so far and how we can continue this vital work together.

Immediate Relief Efforts

Within just three days of the hurricane, we raised $5,000 through PayPal donations. Of that amount, nearly $3,000 was directly distributed to families who were struggling via personal crowdfunding campaigns. The remaining funds supported rural supply distribution centers, ensuring their most urgent needs were met by purchasing high-cost items like propane and generators.

This kind of direct aid can truly transform lives. We witnessed this when a woman from Spruce Pine faced an emergency airlift due to stress-induced early labor at 35 weeks pregnant. Separated from her support system and lacking essentials like diapers and clothing, we stepped in to help. We connected her with emergency funds and a nearby faith community, who, with support from The Highlander Center, assisted her in navigating FEMA applications, securing temporary housing, and gathering necessary items for her and her baby. We’re grateful we were able to support this family during such a vulnerable time, and we’re thrilled to share that both mom and baby are doing well!

Collaborative Partnerships

Our role as a connector has been crucial. We’ve brought together faith groups, relief organizations, and mutual aid hubs including the newly formed Helene Rebuild Collaborative to ensure that surplus goods are effectively redistributed. For example, we facilitated the transfer of $4,000 worth of generators to the Helene Rebuild Collaborative to ensure they are used where they’re most needed.

We’ve collaborated with mutual aid hubs, including folks working with the The Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center in Haywood County, to manage surplus donations efficiently. This included sourcing diapers from distribution centers in Mitchell County to areas in Haywood County that lacked adequate supplies.

We’ve coordinated with congregations from unimpacted areas to ensure that funds are allocated where they’re most needed. For example, Portico (a church in Charlottesville, VA) raised $10,000 to purchase essential items for affected communities. By working with Mitchell County Emergency Services, we were able to identify high-need items, including generators to power wells in areas expected to be without electricity for months. These items were delivered last week–right in time for the first cold snap.

We’ve also partnered with local churches such as First Baptist Church of Sylva and St. John’s Episcopal Sylva, creating a network to organize and distribute necessary items, including winter coats, propane heaters, and solar-powered lights to congregations in areas with significant need. An anonymous donation of $2,000 in gift cards for emergency relief further exemplifies the generosity within our community. These funds have been disseminated to trusted community leaders and are now helping those with boots-on-the-ground respond to the urgent needs before them in a timely, effective, and loving way.

How You Can Help

While we’ve made significant strides, there is still much to be done. Your continued financial support is essential for us to expand our relief efforts and help even more families recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. With additional funds, we can:

• Provide more emergency assistance to families in crisis.
• Purchase essential supplies and equipment for communities facing prolonged power outages.
• Support local congregations in their ongoing relief efforts and outreach.
• Hire additional staff to manage our grassroots disaster relief and mutual aid efforts, ensuring they are sustainable for the long term.

Together, we can strengthen our response and ensure that our communities recover and rebuild. If you’re inspired to help, please donate to the MountainTrue Hurricane Recovery Fund with “CCA Helene Relief” in the memo. Your generosity will directly impact those in need and foster resilience in our communities.

Thank you for standing with us as we care for creation and each other in these challenging times. Let’s continue to make a difference together!

The above photo shows a load of firewood split and delivered by CCA volunteers. The wood was delivered, along with sleeping bags, to a community member without a heat source due to the storm.