Stronger Organizations grant opportunity open until February 17. Learn more here.

Hurricane Helene
response and
resources

a coordinated response for relief, recovery and rebuilding

Dogwood has invested just over $80 million in relief efforts so far across Western North Carolina, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

Uniting with leaders from across the region and state, we are committed to a sustained and coordinated response that upholds our equity commitments and ensures that resources reach the people, organizations and small businesses most affected by this disaster.

Relief investments are helping:

  • Support organizations deploying resources quickly to people and areas most affected
  • Support FEMA assessment, navigation and legal services 
  • Maintain critical health services across the region
  • Provide relief support for housing stability 
  • Respond to the urgent financial needs of local, small businesses
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Out-of-School Time
  • Mental and Behavioral Health
  • Care for Grantees and Support for Individuals

Dogwood anticipates the response to this unnatural event will take both short-term relief and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. Dogwood is committed to helping Western North Carolina communities through the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

partner
stories

farming tractor in a field at sunset

wnc communities

Rooted in the belief that local people are best at solving local problems, WNC Communities wasted no time in the days following Hurricane Helene to connect farm businesses and community centers with immediate resources.
loading up multiple cars with cases of food and drink supplies for those affected by Hurricane Helene

impact health

Impact Health was uniquely positioned to rapidly engage organizations across the region in Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, thanks to the network of Health Serving Organizations that are part of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) network that Impact Health manages in WNC.
Mountain Housing Opportunities

Mountain Housing Opportunities

MHO serves more than 2,000 households annually in Western North Carolina with apartment rentals, essential home repair, down payment assistance, and new home construction.
Jillian Tenge, owner of Jillian's Cafe (SanDee’s Cafe), dirty from Hurricane Helene clean up outside of her restaurant

wncsbi and sandee’s cafe (jillian’s cafe)

Tenge was thrilled her entrepreneurial dream came true, but two years after taking the helm at the cafe, Hurricane Helene devastated her mountain town and her storefront.
Maugans

WNCSBI & Karen Maugans

The day before Hurricane Helene engulfed Western North Carolina, artist Karen Maugans was working at her gallery in the River Arts District...

“Several networks of organizations were created from Dogwood’s previous investments that are now helping us deploy resources for health care, legal services and healthy food distribution. We are fortunate to have this nonprofit infrastructure in place.”

- Dr. Susan Mims, CEO

Dogwood Health Trust