The devastating impact of Hurricane Helene left many North Carolina mountain residents struggling to recover, but an innovative online initiative is bringing holiday cheer to affected families.
Dana Flaherty, a Willow Spring resident, launched “Western NC Holiday Hope” on Facebook following her volunteer work in the hurricane-ravaged region. The group connects storm victims with donors nationwide who purchase items from families’ Amazon wish lists.
“We lost almost everything when the storm hit,” said James Scarborough, 46, whose trailer home suffered extensive water damage. “The furniture, clothes – it was all ruined. We thought we might end up back on the streets.”
Scarborough and his wife receive disability payments totaling $1,000 monthly. After finding the Facebook group, donors provided replacement items for their damaged belongings.
Mary Christ, a retired educator from Concord, chose to assist multiple families through the program. “Not everyone can clear fallen trees or rebuild homes, but we can all help somehow,” Christ said.
The initiative has grown to over 3,500 members since its October launch, with approximately 300 families receiving assistance. Each recipient undergoes verification to prevent misuse of the program.
April Woody, a single mother of three in Spruce Pine, lost utilities for weeks after the hurricane. A family from Illinois purchased more than $1,000 in gifts for her children, including specialty items for her 18-year-old son with autism.
Crystal Barrett of Leicester expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support. “It shows there are still good people willing to help strangers,” said Barrett, whose family endured two weeks without power and water.
Flaherty plans to deliver Thanksgiving baskets to 40 mountain families next week. The meals include items that can be prepared without electricity, plus gift cards for those with working appliances.
“These communities shouldn’t be forgotten,” said Flaherty, who is exploring establishing a nonprofit to continue supporting hurricane victims long-term.
For many recipients, the program restored their faith in humanity. “They’re our guardian angels,” Scarborough said of the donors and organizers. “They’ll never truly know what they mean to us.”
