WASHINGTON, DC — CityServe International, together with Spokes of Hope, 180 Disaster Relief and other strategic partners, has mobilized significant resources and support to provide emergency assistance to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Disaster relief has begun in North and South Carolina and will expand to Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee as the areas become accessible.
The focus for efforts in North Carolina is the Asheville region, including Banner Elk, Sugar Mountain, Black Mountain, and Greenwood. Right now, approximately 500 people stranded on mountain tops are cut off from electricity and drinking water, and lack access to safe roads.
To more effectively assist with rescue and supply distribution, CityServe and the Love & Life Foundation secured the use of a helicopter, which landed in Asheville on September 29. Beginning today, the helicopter, which will carry four former Navy SEALs, will transport supplies from Boone to three isolated mountaintops in the Asheville region.
Other organizations including SpaceX, Operation Blessing, Matthew25 Ministries, Just The Crumbs and Love & Life Air Support Ministry are helping address urgent needs in affected communities ranging from food and tangible goods to communication and transportation.
Simultaneously, rapid response relief efforts are taking place in Aiken, South Carolina, a community of approximately 3,000 people that is 30 miles from a breached dam and cut off from power and water.
Chainsaw teams have been mobilized to begin clearing debris and they will soon be joined by trucks loaded with basic supplies and essential resources from Matthew25 Ministries and Operation Blessing. In addition, a mobile kitchen unit will be in place to provide meals for the community as they recover from the damage wrought by Hurricane Helene.
Given the scope of the relief efforts, additional resources and volunteers are necessary. If you would like to get involved, please consider volunteering or giving to support this essential work.
Several CityServe leaders will be on the ground in the affected areas and will be available for interviews. These include:
- Terry Henshaw, Director of CityServe Disaster Relief
- Todd Lamphere, U.S. Senior Vice President, CityServe
- Shane Ziccole, CityServe Disaster Relief team member & Director of Spokes of Hope
Please reach out to press@jdaworldwide.com to speak with a CityServe representative to learn more about their emergency relief efforts.
About CityServe
CityServe International is a collaborative network of churches and community leaders who help those in need live better lives. CityServe empowers the local church to fulfill its purpose to overcome despair and transform lives by resourcing them with tangible goods and capacity building. CityServe brings the church to the table to address community challenges by offering long-lasting relationships that lead to transformation and has been designated a “Community of Faith and Opportunity” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Read more news on Non Profit Organizations, Humanitarian Services, and Disaster Relief.
Source: JDA Worldwide, Hurricane Helene Emergency Relief Efforts Underway in North and South Carolina
