Together in Service: Western North Carolina Relief Project

The following is an account from Sister Sherron Close regarding the efforts and impact of our stake's involvement in a quilt and coat drive to provide relief for those impacted by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina (WNC).

Dear Durham North Carolina Stake,

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks for your contributions to the blanket/quilt and coat drive for Western North Carolina (WNC). Your support was truly amazing! Here’s a bit of background on how this effort came together, who helped, and how it all unfolded.

How It All Started

When Helene struck, it threw us for a loop. Not having any communication was the worst part. Even though we were safe with our home, power, and water intact, being without communication revealed gaps in our preparedness. After three days, internet was restored in our area, and the videos and pictures we saw were devastating. Mike and I had just visited some of these beautiful places, exploring our new home. 

The destruction, just 30 minutes up the road from us in our new Hickory Stake, has been heartbreaking.

The Inspiration to Do More

After donating cash and goods, and seeing the helicopters, Chinooks, and airplanes constantly heading west, I felt a strong need to do more. But what? A friend reached out to say it was snowing in the mountains and that many people there had literally nothing. That’s when the idea of a cold-weather gear drive came to me. 

I called Alisyn Rogerson, the Relief Society President of the Durham 2nd Ward, to see if her group of sisters could help. Five minutes later, she called back with a resounding "yes!". She and Bishop Schmutz recommended extending the effort to the entire stake. A few emails later and the entire Durham North Carolina Stake was on board.

The Overwhelming Response

I also posted on social media to see if others in the community wanted to help. The response from church members and the community was incredible! Friends, family, and former coworkers contributed, and out-of-state friends sent funds to purchase coats for men, women, and children. Members brought donations during stake conference weekend. We even received Halloween candy donations that filled a giant tote bag for kids in Marshall, NC.

Members of the stake collected, sorted, and bagged all the donations. Between donations from the Durham Stake, Spoonflower, friends, and family, we ended up filling a 15-foot U-Haul truck!

The Journey to Marshall, NC

Our original plan was to stop in Black Mountain, but Saturday morning, our contact suggested taking everything straight to Marshall, where the need was even greater. Off we went on a beautiful fall day, and as we got closer, we were speechless at the devastation we saw along the way. 

We arrived in Marshall at the Laurel Baptist Church. Our dear friends Brian and Julie Emory, Sherri Davis (our point of contact), Pastor Pete Fletcher, and many others were there to help us unload the truck. They were thrilled with the donations and expressed immense gratitude. The need in Marshall and surrounding towns is still overwhelming.

We stayed the night and attended Sunday services at the church with our friends. It's just a small church on a hill, in a holler. Maybe 70 people were there, but they wer the kindest, most warm-hearted folks!  We felt so welcomed and thoroughly enjoyed the sermon and worship music!  (Love me some worship music!)

Distributing the Donations

By Sunday evening, we’d already received updates on how our donations were being distributed:

- Sleeping bags, quilts, and comforters went to the homeless in Marshall and surrounding areas.

- Quilts were donated to Reynolds Baptist Church for distribution and to Elderberry Nursing Home, where residents had lost belongings in the flooding.

- Diapers and wipes supported a young family in Hot Springs.

- Coats were distributed across Marshall for those who lost everything.

Julie Emory and Sherri Davis have been amazing in ensuring donations go where they’re needed most. Their work is a testament to the difference we can make when we follow promptings and use the resources we have.

A Lasting Impact

Witnessing the devastation firsthand and helping clean up has been both fulfilling and heartbreaking. The need for help with mucking, tearing down, and rebuilding is still enormous, as is the need for supplies. I invite you to reach out to organizations in WNC to see what you can do. If you’re interested in further supporting relief efforts, I can provide recommendations.

I know this has been a long letter, but I wanted to share that when a person does what they can, where they are, with the resources they have, great things can happen. It has been an amazing experience to do this and make connections with good people.

Once again, THANK YOU to the Durham North Carolina Stake for your incredible outpouring of support. Your generosity has made a lasting difference for so many in need.

We love you all!  

Sherron and Mike Close