In the first year following the devastation of Hurricane Helene, the Diocese of Western North Carolina was unceasing in their efforts to help their neighbors and communities begin the long process of rebuilding.
They’ve shared some of those stories in their “2025 Congregation and Community Grant Impact Report.” They are stories of resilience, ingenuity, dedication, collaboration and faith. We share a few of these stories here and give thanks to our neighbors to the west for their selflessness, commitment and faithful witness. Download the full report at diocesewnc.org/disaster-resiliency.
A Letter from The Rev. Kelsey Davis
The Rev. Kelsey Davis
The stories and impact of our Congregation & Community Recovery Grant program reflect a deep truth: our local churches, local organizations and diocesan community are resilient, collaborative and compassionate. I’m so grateful for all of the ways local churches and organizations are leading recovery efforts. What I love about each one of these localized recovery efforts is that they are authentic to the character and culture of the people. Thank you for being you and for your faithful work.
God has given each of us gifts to share. Recovery efforts only require that we simply be who we are and do what only we can do. God has given us limitations, and knowing what we can’t do is just as important as knowing what we can do. This is good news because instead of needing to do it all, we get to rely on one another as the Body of Christ. Together, our collective impact widens and deepens, and we can do more than any one of us alone. Together, we heal and recover.
Many of the grants you see here will continue their work into 2026. We are grateful for the continued support of Episcopal Relief & Development and our diocese whose financial support makes this grant program possible.
In Solidarity,
The Rev. Kelsey Davis
Bishop’s Deputy for Disaster Response & Recovery, Diocese of WNC
St. George’s, Asheville in partnership with Babies Need Bottoms
This project expands our work to meet these unmet needs for our most vulnerable and smallest community members by increasing access to diapering supplies and infant formula.
Hurricane Helene left a lasting impact on families across Western North Carolina, compounding existing challenges with new layers of instability. In the months since the storm, households have faced displacement, job loss and disrupted support systems—all of which have intensified the struggle to meet basic needs for infants and their caregivers.
“We hear all the time that mothers will skip meals in order to feed and diaper their babies. We don’t want any caregiver to ever be faced with that decision. Diaper assistance provides relief and hope in times of uncertainty.”
St. Philip’s, Brevard in partnership with Human Rights Transylvania/ Derechos Humanos Transylvania (DHT)
DHT is a solidarity coalition to expand support to immigrants in Transylvania County, under the auspices of True Ridge. DHT organizes its efforts under four areas of response: rapid response, student support, advocacy and bridge building. The Latino Community in Transylvania County was among the hardest hit by Hurricane Helene, as many members live in lower-cost housing in the floodplain of the French Broad River. The aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the heightened tension on immigrant communities in the United States have exacerbated pre-existing vulnerabilities.
“In early November, the DHT hotline received a call from a young woman asking for a ride to take her newborn to a doctor’s appointment at Transylvania Hospital. We were able to send a Rapid Responder to accompany her. Upon arrival at the hospital, the mother learned that the newborn baby was in critical condition and needed care from a regional hospital. The volunteer was able to continue the rapid response service in taking the mother all the way to Mission in Asheville to receive the proper care, likely saving the baby’s life.
“We have continued to provide support through our Rapid Response system to enable this new mother to navigate the county registrar system and obtain the birth certificate.”
Saint John’s, Sylva in partnership with Colaborativa la Milpa
Provides rental and utility assistance to members of the Emma Community impacted by Storm Helene.
“Our small parish is becoming increasingly diverse and bilingual. Simply choosing to assist Colaborativa La Milpa felt like an acknowledgement and celebration of the immigrants in our congregation.”
