As recovery continues and the winter months take hold in western North Carolina, communities are getting creative to maximize their impact and collaborating to help meet their neighbors’ basic needs. From faith-based groups and nonprofit organizations to long-term recovery groups, community leaders are pooling resources, sharing volunteers, and working together to meet essential needs.
“Western North Carolina is already experiencing freezing temperatures and winter weather, and communities rely on local organizations to help keep their families safe during these coldest months,” said Matt Calabria, Director of GROW NC. “We’re so grateful to the incredible folks doing critical work to address food insecurity and ensure their neighbors have a warm place to stay. Their collaboration with partners across the region is making a substantial difference for western North Carolinians, and we’re committed to working alongside them to ensure they have the resources they need.”
Below are just a few examples of the many ways communities are working together to help address needs.
Food Access
MANNA FoodBank works alongside 220 nonprofit pantries, meal sites, and other community-based organizations to help neighbors access free food in 16 western North Carolina counties, including the Qualla Boundary. Boosting the community’s collaborative work to address hunger was the impetus behind the launch of MANNA’s Food Finder Tool, a searchable map to help people locate food access organizations and distributions in their communities. Each month, families and individuals make more than 195,000 visits to MANNA’s partner pantries for food and support as the region continues to recover from Hurricane Helene.
“Our partner network is the backbone of our efforts to combat hunger in Western North Carolina,” said Dr. Claire Neal, CEO at MANNA. “Together, we form a united front against food insecurity.”
In October, Governor Josh Stein announced that the State of North Carolina would grant $10 million to local food banks across the state. The State is joined by AmeriHealth Caritas, which will give $5 million; The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, which will accelerate $2.5 million from a previously announced $10 million gift; and other donors.
In recent months, new collaborations emerged with food banks and distribution sites as hubs for resource sharing. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services began distributing information about its HOPE4NC Helpline at 1-855-587-3463, offering help to people experiencing stress, emotional fatigue, a mental health crisis, or just the need to talk with someone. Trained crisis outreach workers are available to connect disaster survivors with resources that assist in recovery and rebuilding, help with disaster preparedness, and offer emotional and educational support.
The Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program is also active at food distribution sites, providing information and resources to help qualifying homeowners submit applications before the Dec. 31, 2025, deadline. This federally funded program offered through the North Carolina Department of Commerce is available to repair, rebuild, or replace homes with remaining damage from Hurricane Helene.
“Partnering with western North Carolina food banks helps ensure community members who may qualify for the program are given the information and tools to apply,” said Samantha Graham, Director of Outreach at the NC Department of Commerce Division of Community Revitalization. “As we move into the holidays, and families and friends gather together, we hope the message will spread so we can continue to serve western North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene.”
Winterization
Colder winter temperatures also cause a spike in need for homeowners and renters who need access to energy for heating their homes and money to pay for increased utility costs. An important step in the disaster recovery process involves the winterization of homes and temporary housing units, increasing insulation and improving energy efficiency. As rebuilding and repairing efforts continue for thousands of homes destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Helene, communities are working together to offer low- or no-cost installation of moisture and temperature barriers like weather stripping and insulation to help families stay warm with fewer energy costs.
My Mountain Recovery serves as the long-term recovery group for Yancey and Mitchell counties. It is made up of organizations partnering to identify needs and organize volunteer-driven efforts to support continued recovery. Together, these partners designed a winterization program that addresses critical issues like leaking roofs, plumbing or electrical hazards, and other safety concerns. The program is underway in Yancey County with plans for expanding into Mitchell County. Made possible through volunteer and staff support, these services are available to homeowners with site-built homes or mobile homes on permanent foundations.
The United Methodist Church’s Western North Carolina Conference (WNCC) collaborates with local churches and volunteer networks to provide winterization services for campers and travel trailers. Their efforts are underway in Haywood, Henderson, Buncombe, McDowell, Yancey, and Ashe counties, and in the Town of Spruce Pine. In conjunction with its own case management process, WNCC Disaster Ministries also hired construction coordinators to work with volunteer teams and local partners as the work of repairing and rebuilding homes continues.
Leaders from Rebuild Haywood built their team to meet the growing demand for home rebuilding efforts in their Haywood County community. They added a licensed general contractor, a construction team, a certified disaster case manager, and a case management team to help address needs like the winterization of campers and travel trailers. Offering an organized process that groups leaders and volunteers each step of the way helps this collaboration broaden its impact across multiple counties.
Em Nidiffer, program director and construction manager at Rebuild Haywood, emphasized the importance of partnership and collaboration to meet the winterization needs of Hurricane Helene survivors in the state’s westernmost counties. “We are working closely with WNCC Disaster Ministries, Blue Collar Relief, and others to urgently winterize campers and trailers, train volunteers in winterization, and provide resources for propane exchange so that Hurricane Helene survivors have protection from the cold this winter.”
Winterization isn’t the only pressing need to help western North Carolinians through the season. More community efforts are underway to help people access the supplies they need to keep their homes safe and warm. Banner Elk’s Foscoe Home Team is organizing free firewood delivery. ABCCM is collecting donated heaters and generators in the Asheville-Buncombe area to distribute to residents who need them.
Project Your Home and partners are conducting a propane drive on Friday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Loving Hearts Bear Closet located at 337 Garden Creek Road, Marion, NC 28752. In October, several organizations came together to conduct a propane drive in Canton. Those partners included Caffeine & Chaos, Mount Moriah Hub, Lady Knights, Masonic Lodge 259, and the 18th Masonic District of South Carolina.
Community Action Opportunities works with a variety of partners on recovery work. The organization offers free winterization assistance programs in Buncombe, Cleveland, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, and Transylvania counties.
Businesses offer support as well. The Energy Saver Network serves income-qualified Duke Energy clients with free energy-efficiency upgrades — weatherization, HVAC heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, insulation — and home repairs with the help of dedicated volunteers and funding from Duke Energy, grants, and private donations.
More Resources
The NC 211 tool offers connections to local organizations that provide assistance with food, shelter, health, or other critical needs, searchable by issue and location. This free, confidential, and multilingual health and human services information and referral system is available 24 hours a day in all 100 North Carolina counties. Managed by United Way of North Carolina and supported by many local United Ways across the state, NC 211 is a trusted resource and serves as a key member of the State Emergency Response Team. North Carolinians can find help by dialing 2-1-1 (or 1-888-892-1162) or by visiting nc211.org.
NC Disaster Case Management assists individuals with unmet needs due to Hurricane Helene and who either live in one of the 39 disaster-impacted counties or are members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. You can get help from the program even if you did not apply for FEMA assistance. After you complete the initial needs survey, a case manager will help you to make a recovery plan that fits your needs, find available resources, and work through challenges caused by the storm. Fill out their survey online or call 844-746-2326 to describe your needs. A case manager will contact you as soon as possible to make a recovery plan that fits your needs.
The Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina continues to update its categorized Recovery Resource Hub. Share this library of available resources with your community. If you have information about other recovery resources not listed, please send details to wncrecovery@nc.gov.
Visit our WNC Recovery Stories page to find more stories about the programs, people and organizations making a difference in western North Carolina.