The Foundation stands with you, now and for the long-term

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

One week ago, we watched helplessly as Helene made landfall in the Gulf and barreled into the valleys of Western North Carolina. Homes and livelihoods, years of hard work, lifetimes of memories… all washed away in hours.

Yet in the aftermath of the destruction, God’s presence prevails.

In Boone, a preschool opened its doors for families of first responders. In Morganton, a multi-purpose center became the site of a Red Cross emergency shelter. In Sparta, a congregation welcomed the community for hot meals prepared by local restaurants.

Churches across the Western North Carolina Conference stepped forward to serve as collection centers for supplies that will be rushed to areas of greatest impact.

We want you to know that the staff and leadership of the Foundation stand with you. We are prepared to walk this journey with you in the months ahead. Through God’s grace and the strength of our Connection, we will find the way toward brighter days.

For now, we’d like to share three elements of our initial response:

• The Hope Fund, a Foundation ministry initiative launched in 2022, provides immediate grants to United Methodist churches in Western North Carolina following physical loss of property due to fire, flood or natural disaster.
• Foundation staff members are training Early Response Teams, answering phones and providing Spanish-language services at the WNCC Disaster Response Hotline, a call center that opened Oct. 3. Anyone can call the hotline at 980-354-4157 to request assistance, volunteer and/or contribute supplies.
• A storytelling series in partnership with the Conference shines a light on United Methodists loving God as they love their neighbors. Stories of hope and healing reveal God’s faithfulness and, we hope, inspire others to use their own gifts.

These efforts represent the start of a long-term undertaking. Please know that we will find more ways to be of assistance, financially or otherwise. This is how we fulfill our mission to build the Church for generations to come and live out John Wesley’s rule to do all the good we can.

With prayers for your safety and gratitude to be on the journey with you,