Helene was profoundly disruptive on so many levels. Working with partners to safely open schools and childcare centers and ensuring services for vulnerable populations was an early focus.
The grants supported:
Childcare recovery was critical to the recovery ecosystem and effort. Helene impacted early childhood care providers causing physical damage, financial hardship and operational disruptions that forced some centers to close permanently and others to temporarily relocate. This created significant challenges for providers, including loss of income and increased operating costs for repairs, and disrupted routines for children at a critical developmental stage.
Due to power outages, loss of water and damage to roads and facilities, some WNC schools were closed for weeks. In many rural areas, schools and community colleges served as relief centers and distribution hubs. EDRF donors helped schools, educators, administrators, and childcare workers find stability and access services as they worked to support children and families.
A grant to the YWCA helped transport Mighty Sinks that allowed its childcare programs to reopen without clean portable running water, as required by state childcare licensing. It also funded some of the salaries of staff who ran a distribution center that opened only four business days after the storm and served 1,500 of its neighbors. Photo courtesy of the YWCA of Asheville
In October, funds were awarded to Avery, Mitchell and Yancey County school systems to provide each public school in these rural and very hard-hit counties $25,000 to help meet NC Department of Public Instruction requirements for reopening. Watch the video below to learn more. Photo courtesy of CFWNC
One of McDowell Tech's EMS students was working as a dispatcher during Helene, balancing intense professional responsibilities with coursework. When he took an emergency withdrawal to avoid damaging his GPA, EDRF funding covered his outstanding balance and allowed him to continue his progress toward a career in public safety. Photo courtesy of McDowell Tech
Crossnore Communities for Children was awarded two grants to repair damage to its campus caused by six to eight feet of flooding from Clark Branch. Funds supported the demolition and abatement of a facility building that was compromised beyond repair by Hurricane Helene and rebuilt a bridge that was destroyed at the rear of its campus. Photo courtesy of Crossnore
