[Image: The congregation at the Cathedral of All Souls, Asheville, spent its first Sunday in a temporary home at St. George’s, Asheville, on December 8, 2024. The congregation of St. George’s has been on sabbatical since January 2023. The church will be a temporary home for the All Souls community while they rebuild at the cathedral property in Biltmore Village, which Hurricane Helene extensively damaged. Photos courtesy of the Diocese of Western North Carolina]
Update from the Diocese of Western North Carolina
When Hurricane Helene hit the western part of North Carolina last fall, it left devastation in its wake from which it will take years to recover. The generosity of the human spirit was in abundance in the immediate aftermath of the storm, and that generosity continues to be needed.
The Diocese of Western North Carolina is hard at work amid recovery efforts, and we share this update from them with encouragement to continue to find ways your gifts might provide support and assistance.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the diocese continues to support communities across Western North Carolina affected by this disaster. A key part of this support is the diocesan Disaster Relief and Response Team assembled by Bishop José McLoughlin, bishop of the Diocese of Western North Carolina.
The Venerable Brenda Gilbert is serving as the assistant coordinator for donations and volunteers. Gilbert assisted with coordinating both communication and relief efforts just hours after the storm hit, and she continues her involvement as the point person for organizing donations of all kinds and connecting volunteers with opportunities to serve.
Dan Gilbert serves as the assistant coordinator for logistics and technology. He is a retired major in the United States Army and also stepped in to assist with communication and technology in the storm’s immediate aftermath. He brings years of experience in helping provide logistical support to large organizations and crisis situations.
The Rev. Kelsey Davis is serving as the bishop’s deputy for disaster response and recovery. Davis is well-known to those in the area from her years as the director of Blue Ridge Service Corps and campus missioner at UNC-Asheville and Western Carolina University. She brings years of experience and training in community engagement and organization, and her gifts in building and sustaining healthy relationships across the various community sectors are essential to this role.
Utilizing funding from Episcopal Relief & Development, as well as other generous donors, this team is leading diocesan efforts to discern and develop a long-term rebuilding plan in partnership with nonprofit, local, state and federal organizations.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Resource Offerings
If you have resources you’d like to share, including goods, supplies, labor and services, the Diocese of Western North Carolina is maintaining a list of offers to match with those in need. Complete the form at bit.ly/DioWNCOfferResources. A member of the response team will reach out to you after the form is completed.
Volunteer—Adults
If you would like to volunteer in person within affected areas, please complete a volunteer interest form so your skills and availability can be matched with needs. Find the form at bit.ly/DioWNCVolunteerInterest.
Volunteer—Youth Groups
Youth mission trip opportunities will be available this summer for two sessions: June 17-22 and June 24-29. During these times, the Diocese of Western North Carolina will offer a fully planned trip including meals, lodging, programming and worksite placement. If you are interested, please fill out the youth mission trip interest form at bit.ly/DioWNCYouthGroups.
Financial Donations
Financial contributions continue to be a much-needed resource that directly supports the work happening across the region.
To give directly to the Diocese of Western North Carolina relief efforts, select “Hurricane Helene Relief” at the top of the dropdown menu at bit.ly/DioWNCDonate.
Other ways to give monetary donations include:
- Episcopal Relief & Development: The disaster response team at Episcopal Relief & Development stays in contact with dioceses in all areas affected by disasters. Funds collected will be used for long-term relief efforts as well as emergency grants, which are for churches in affected areas that are in a position to respond to needs in their local community. Per the organization’s website, “Your gift will provide our partners on the ground with critical supplies, such as food and water, pastoral care and other urgent needs. You’ll also help us assist with the long-term efforts needed to rebuild and heal.” Donate at bit.ly/ERDHurricaneHeleneRelief.
- United Way of NC: The UW Helps NC Fund supports immediate response and long-term recovery efforts. The website also provides a search and rescue form, access to a list of donation sites and a way to apply for relief funds. Donate at bit.ly/UnitedWayHeleneRelief.
- American Red Cross: Working with officials and community partners, almost 1,400 Red Cross disaster workers are focused on providing shelter, food and comfort to thousands, with more help on the way. In addition, the Red Cross has deployed more than 45 emergency response vehicles to get help to where it is needed, and about two dozen more are en route. Where it is safe to do so, Red Cross disaster responders are driving these vehicles throughout affected communities, assessing the damage and distributing meals and relief supplies. Donate at redcross.org/donate/donation.
Item donations, in general, still are not helpful. Storage space is an issue, and the effort and energy required to sort through and process unneeded items creates volunteer fatigue and burnout. Please continue to respond as requested above; as needs change, the diocese will share the news.
The Diocese of North Carolina continues to walk with our siblings in the western part of our beloved state and will continue to provide updates on ways you can help and, as they happen, the stories of rebuilding and resilience.
From the Diocese of Western North Carolina, adapted from updates provided on diocesan channels
Stay up to Date
The diocesan recovery team shares an email address. If the established channels do not address the ways you can help, or if you have ideas or other offerings, contact them.
To stay up to date on recovery and relief efforts in the Diocese of Western North Carolina, visit diocesewnc.org/Helene or
bit.ly/DioNCHeleneRelief.
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