One Year Later: United Way's Role In Helene Recovery Efforts

Mobilizing After the Storm

When Helene hit, our building had no power or water—yet people kept showing up, asking how they could help. From our downtown hub, we began mobilizing volunteers, raising funds, and connecting people to resources, just as we've done for over 100 years. Yet that moment, and the pandemic before it, have reshaped our understanding of our role in community resiliency and how we prepare our space for future crises.

Standing Up a Warehouse Overnight

Buncombe County asked us to take on a crucial role: managing a 41,000-square-foot supply warehouse. Within 24 hours, we were receiving and distributing truckloads of donations. With more than 400 volunteers, we moved 76 pallets and 2,600+ boxes of supplies to 68 partner organizations. It was a living example of how community trust and long-standing relationships can be activated in an instant.

Strength of our Network

Several of our staff were in Salt Lake City for a conference when the storm hit, which meant they had access to news, electricity, and a network of United Way professionals who had been through disasters like Helene. Those conversations—and a quick pivot to launch an online donation portal—made it possible for gifts to flow in from nearly every state and even from abroad. These donations, along with notes of encouragement, showed us the strength of the United Way network and the deep trust people place in it.

Getting Help to the Frontlines

We knew that community partners were best positioned to address the need on the ground. From Swannanoa to Barnardville, and everywhere in between, our VP of Community Engagement, Aisha Shepherd, drove across the county to listen and learn what was needed, delivering direct assistance funds for those impacted. To date, we've distributed over $4.5 million, with $2.3 million of that allocated for direct assistance to families. There is still more to do. 

Power of AmeriCorps Support

We hosted two AmeriCorps NCCC crews who brought nearly 5,000 hours of muscle and spirit to the response. They helped exhausted local leaders distribute relief in communities like Black Mountain and Swannanoa, proving the value of federal programs when matched with strong local partnerships.

Deep Roots in Swannanoa

Swannanoa is home to one of our nine Community Schools, and many of us have personal ties to the area. Helene displaced more than 400 families in that valley alone. Being able to bring national and state leaders like Angela Williams (UWW) and Brittany Pruitt Fletcher (UWNC) to meet with local partners underscored the importance of maintaining national attention on this issue and investing in our communities for the long haul.

Housing Hope

Housing recovery has been slow, tangled in insurance claims and floodplain restrictions. But when a longtime donor offered a mobile home, we connected them with the English family, nominated by their own community. It was one small but powerful reminder that recovery is built person by person, neighbor by neighbor.

Restoring A Critical Service

When Christine Avery Learning Center lost every piece of furniture, toys, and flooring in their Swannanoa site, dozens of families suddenly had no childcare. Our funding helped them replace these essential items to code, so they could reopen with safe and joyful classrooms. Six months later, the rooms were once again full of laughter and learning—a beautiful contrast to the devastation left by the storm.

Long-Term Commitment

In collaboration with Thrive Asheville, UWABC co-convened a series of meetings with nonprofit, government, faith-based, and community partners to address the complex, long-term needs of disaster-impacted households. United Way's role has evolved, now serving as the fiscal sponsor of the Buncombe County Long-Term Recovery Group (BCLTRG) and providing backbone support by providing Interim Executive leadership, convening strategic partners, managing grants, and housing BCLTRG staff at our office. 

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