Stories

Safe home delivery update! The first of many safe homes was delivered today. Because of you, we are able to provide immediate support for families in need. Support has come in the form of supplies (generators, chain saws, heaters, life-saving medication, food, water, fuel, etc.). We have covered necessary bills, we have flown supplies into every county, city, town, holler you can name, and now – safe spaces to live.

Today we were able to move forward with eleven tiny homes, one immediately available, ten arriving in less than two weeks. We will furnish these homes with essentials – beds, heaters, and storage. We are working with families that have submitted an application through our website, as well as families we have supported along the way. These homes will save lives with winter fast approaching and temperatures falling into the 30s.

We are happy to come with an update of the prototype safe homes being delivered for our review. We are sponsoring ten families with our initial order, furnished, insulated and powered. This is a solution to get families out of the cold and into a safe home that we can heat easily during the winter months. We will also be able to place these on their land or in a location they are safe if their property is no longer accessible.

This week, cold temperatures have had a significant impact on those without power and fuel sources for heat. As mentioned previously, our attention has quickly turned to heaters, generators, and warm clothing, in addition to the chainsaws and fuel we have been supplying along the way. Many locations throughout the high country are inundated with general supplies, but specific needs are still being met.

The outpouring of support continues to amaze me. We are receiving messages daily from donors all over the world who are following the progress in the high country. Our mountains are beautiful, and the people who call it home are as well. As we continue our mission, we are seeking applications from individuals directly impacted from the storm. Applications have been pouring in this weekend, and we look forward to telling their story.

Today was a big day as we continue to deploy our resources, volunteers, and supplies to those in need. Our direct support applications are open on our website. We received requests for assisting with bills, transportation, housing, and heating supplies. The general consensus from the initial applications is that their jobs are gone – restaurants are closed, tourism jobs are on hold, and the economy is rocked to the core. During COVID, these same issues existed, but the government was providing support to individuals in need. Today, the support is on us. Individuals that care and put others first.

Success for us is defined by the support we provide. We are directly impacting lives by receiving real time updates from the boots on the ground, responding promptly with the necessary goods, and most importantly projecting what those needs will be. We have been fortunate through this campaign to raise funds for continued support over the longevity of this disaster. These funds are not used for overhead, they aren’t used to pad pockets, they are used to directly support the families impacted by Helene in Western North Carolina.

How can it only be Tuesday?! We have had a busy start to our week. The Avery County Airport is hopping – helos, planes, trucks, ATVs, volunteers, all working in unison for a common goal. Distribute donated goods as quickly as possible to those in need. Today we achieved a large goal of ours in meeting local representation that share our values and our mission. We understand that supplies will be needed for a long time, with some areas not expected to get their power back on for 2–3 months. The churches and community centers play a crucial role in providing space to keep supplies for longer than a two-week

It is amazing to me to receive emails from all across the globe – following our progress, sending supplies, and participating in any way possible. There is a general sense of helplessness, even for those of us that are in this every day supporting the people in our community. At times, the missions feel so big, yet so small in the grand scheme and scope of this disaster. We are focused on providing relief – food, water, shelter, communication, while also determining what assistance is the most sustainable for the long-term.

Today is officially one week since the launch of our campaign. None of us would have expected to experience a life-changing moment, had you asked us at this point a week ago. We have learned a lot – both positively and negatively. We have adapted. We have responded to every challenge that has been thrown at us. We have supported the community in a time of need with the determination to make a difference.