Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

As we witness the devastation from Hurricane Helene in places so dear to us, we’re reminded that our sense of community extends beyond walls and is bound by ties stronger than zip codes. Myers Park Presbyterian Church is actively responding to the needs of some of the communities impacted.

Gifts and committments: $89,772
Disbursements and allocations: $48,449

Short-Term Response

Local Partnerships

We’re partnering with Black Mountain Presbyterian Church and Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church to purchase and deliver critical, time-sensitive supplies for disaster response and provide funding for their relief efforts.

• The community of Black Mountain and professional relief organzations have come together to centralize hot meal preparation and distribution, building on and supported by the good work begun by Black Mountain Presbyterian Church.
• Black Mountain Presbyterian Church is has shifted focus to the spiritual and emotional care for residents of Montreat and Black Mountain, especially children and youth.
• Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church is distributing supplies, including blankets and camping stoves, to people in their community as the weather turns colder. We continue to purchase and deliver time-sensitive supplies to this community.
• Manna Food Bank serves over 100,000 people in 16 counties in Western North Carolina. All of their equipment and food in their main distribution hub was washed away. We’ve distributed funds to replace critical equipment used to feed thousands.
• The Appalachian Shower Project is placing portable showers throughout the region. We are funding three shower units with 3-4 showers each.

Gifts made to the dedicated plate offering through the month of October will be marked for relief efforts. Click the button below and select “Plate Offering” to participate in this effort.

Volunteers

In the coming weeks, we may need people to assist in clean-up and delivery efforts on a short notice. If you are interested in being on a list to receive updates when there are needs, please fill out the form below and we will contact you.

Donate Supplies to Collection Sites

While we are not collecting items at MPPC, we encourage you to find trusted supply drives that maximize quantity and minimize road traffic.

A good place to start is Brad Panovich’s Facebook Page.

We also urge caution: There is a lot of misinformation on social media about the effectiveness of certain supply drives, so please ensure you’re donating through trusted sources.

Medium-Term Response

All-Church Service Day

Our All-Church Retreat scheduled for the end of the month in Montreat, NC, has been canceled. Instead, we will gather in Charlotte for a day of service in support of the communties affected by Hurricane Helene.

Stay tuned for more information about this effort.

Long-Term Response

While much of the immediate disaster work will be carried out by professionals in the coming weeks, we’re ready to offer physical support once the needs evolve and the situation allows for more volunteers. We’re in this for the long haul.

Ongoing Financial Support

We are also planning for long-term recovery efforts. The Presbytery of Western North Carolina is helping us provide targeted financial support for ongoing recovery and rebuilding. We’ll continue working with local churches to assess their specific needs and provide assistance as they evolve.

Click the button below and select “Plate Offering” to participate in this effort.