Disaster Relief

Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief

Hurricane Helene brutally overpowered Western North Carolina on September 28, 2024. This event turned into an urgent call to action for White Memorial Presbyterian Church.

The generosity of our church members in times of crisis is a powerful testament to compassion and faith. Through heartfelt donations totaling $232,029, our church provided critical support to Hurricane Helene disaster relief efforts, offering hope and assistance to those affected by the natural disaster.

Cash contributions helped supply food, shelter, housing, showers, and other life sustaining necessities to the hardest hit areas in Western North Carolina. This generosity not only met immediate need but also inspired others to come together in support of those facing unimaginable life crisis.

Though this update is being written more than six months after the hurricane hit, the work continues, and the need is immense.

Volunteers rolled up their sleeves to assist.

  • Sam Stewart led work groups to rebuilt homes around Burnsville in Yancy County. Along with his Young Men’s Bible Study group he travelled to Black Mountain Presbyterian Church to deliver two large SUVs full of food staples and water donated by WMPC members. These young men also cooked and served 1,500 BBQ meals.
  • Wynn Dorsett, Sue and John Ramsay, Jimmy Barnes, Barbara and Gordon Leden, Sherri and Eric Miller, Betsy and Joel Youngblood and Dee and Tom Davis delivered collected items to towns hardest hit.
  • Sherri Miller, Angela Farthing, Maggie Black, Judy and Tim Blount, Susan Hibbert, Anne White, Linda Law, Suzi Boden, Julie Gooding, and Ruth Landers worked with Note in the Pocket and Black Mountain’s Bounty and Soul to identify and meet the most critical need of hurricane victims.
  • Eddie Williford reserved a truck from Gregory Poole to transport supplies collected by the Presbytery of New Hope to key locations in the western part of the state.
  • To date our church members have sorted and delivered over 3,800 items to Western North Carolina.

Around our campus, groups rallied their support.

  • Presbyterian Women donated to the Disaster Relief fund as well as created 200 Feminine Hygiene packs.
  • The Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible Study group raised $50,000 through their 1, 2, 3, Helene campaign.
  • The Weekday School community collected diapers, wipes, and baby formula that was distributed through the Diaper Bank of NC. They also collected toys for Christmas.
  • Pet food donated at the Blessing of the Animals was sent to shelters housing rescued pets.
  • As winter approached, hats, coats and gloves for children and adults were collected and sent to hurricane victims.
  • Brandon Hunt with BRH Dentists collected carloads of clothing, dental supplies, and other personal necessities that we made sure were received by victims.


Disaster Relief Fund Disbursements

Knowing that churches in Western North Carolina had the greatest understanding about how to assist people, we distributed funds to First Presbyterian Church Asheville, Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church Marion and Banner Elk Presbyterian Church Preschool.

White Memorial was blessed to support nonprofit organizations in Western NC as they prioritized the needs of victims.  These organizations included Beloved Asheville, Bounty and Soul, and Feeding Avery Families.

We worked with Appalachian Service Project as they built and distributed portable showers to provide hot showers to the hardest hit areas.  Showers were used by first responders and storm victims.

In addition, our church aided individuals moving back into their homes; purchased tents for people waiting to get back into their home; provided aid to individuals completing FEMA forms; and invested in counseling professions who worked with displaced and traumatized people.

Pray

From WMPC young adult Sam Stewart who has led several trips to the Western part of our state since Hurricane Helene to support people affected by the devastation.  Below is the prayer he offered in preparation for the trips:

“Lord God, thank you for your grace and your mercy. It is easy for us to become distracted by our daily lives. Help us to stay focused on the task at hand as we prepare to bring help and supplies to those in need, in your name. Lord, we ask for your help – fill our community with the spirit of giving, make us strong and steadfast as we prepare for our trip, and help us make the most of what we have. Father God as we prepare to go out into the world, soften our hearts, strengthen our resolve, and let nothing discourage us. Let others who do not know You find their way to You, God, and let us be an example of the love that You have for all of us. All these things we ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen”