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Writer's pictureKayla Lasure

Relief Efforts After Hurricane Helene


Three weeks ago, the Hunger and Health Coalition started responding to the needs of our community in the wake of Hurricane Helene. During this time, we’ve seen an unimaginable amount of heartbreak, sadness and grief. Each person we connect with has a story of how they were affected; no one has come out of this unscathed. 


On Sept. 30, we hit the ground running and started dispersing supplies to other distribution sites in Watauga, Avery, Ashe Yancey, and Mitchell counties as well as Johnson County, TN. Our pre-existing mobile delivery service reached out and made sure all of the folks who were already signed up for the service pre the hurricane were safe. While scheduled mobile deliveries were going out, phone calls began pouring in of others needing direct assistance — adapting our services in real time as we started becoming a mobile hurricane relief effort. We have also retrofitted one of our food recovery vans into a mobile pharmacy to set up shop near the TN/NC state line to ensure medication access to those who couldn’t make it to our main site. 


Needless to say, we have been busy. 


Amongst all of the heartbreak and sadness, part of what has kept us going is watching the community care for each other beyond what we imagined. We’ve seen a great deal of heartwarming support from within and outside of the community, not just for our agency but for those in our area. 


We’ve filled various parts of our building as well as multiple storage units with incoming supplies. Multiple groups and individuals have donated supplies to our efforts, including several pallets of products from Kate Farms, more than 20,000 pounds of food and supplies from A Simple Gesture of Greensboro, and a new refrigerated truck from our friends on the West Coast. 


The amount of love, words of encouragement, volunteer help, and donations we have received has not gone unnoticed. Thank you to everyone who has thought of us these last few weeks. 


But we aren’t done. 


The Hunger and Health Coalition is here for the marathon that will be the recuperation and rebuilding of the region after Helene. As the press dies down, the volunteer distribution sites dwindle and news isn’t as prevalent, the Hunger and Health Coalition will still be here providing support with food, medication and supplies. 


If you’d like to join us in the marathon, visit the Hurricane Relief information on our website at https://lnkd.in/eTKSsEsQ. You can also keep up to date with all of what we’re doing by following us on Facebook and Instagram.









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