Hello from HayCo Pride. We hope this message finds you safe and managing this crisis to the best of your ability. Our hearts are broken at the destruction left behind after Hurricane Helene ravaged our southern Appalachian cities and towns this weekend.
It is with heavy hearts that we must announce that the Queer Culture Celebration originally scheduled for October 5th has been postponed indefinitely as our beloved community reckons with the aftermath of this storm.
We are grateful to report that all of our Board members are safe, though some are still without water, power, and gas, and the limited cell service in this area has made it difficult to communicate. The road to recovery ahead is a long one, and we are focusing our energy on assisting our communities in their efforts to meet basic needs and rebuild.
We know that resources are scarce right now, but if you are in a position to donate time, items, or funds in Haywood County, there are a few hubs that could use your help listed below. For more information across the WNC counties, visit bit.ly/wncheleneguide.
You have our hearts, Haywood County. We will make it through this together.
Financial Donations
- Haywood Christian Ministry ARISE Recovery Fund
- Mountain Projects (Waynesville/Sylva) flood support emergency fund
- WNC Regional Livestock Center (source)
- Monetary donations for livestock relief and rebuilding supplies can be made to donate@cdro.us via Paypal or Venmo to @Yvonne-Cobourn-1
Material Donations
*Note that none of these locations are collecting clothing or furniture. Please do not donate clothing or furniture.
- Pigeon Community Center (Waynesville)
- Seeking Batteries (all sizes), lamps, flashlights, solar powered light sources, diapers (all sizes but especially 6 and 3), first aid supplies of all kinds
- Jukebox Junction (Canton/Cruso)
- Seeking cleaning supplies, paper goods, toiletries, water, baby formula, lactose free formula
- Woodland Baptist Church (Waynesville)
- Seeking Paper Towels, Cat Food, Peanut Butter, Laundry Detergent, Dish Soap, Cleaning Rags, Bleach, Cereal, Canned Fruit/Veggies
- WNC Regional Livestock Center (source) (Canton)
- Seeking senior horse feed, any feed for all species of livestock, dog/cat food and pee pads. Fencing materials, such as Tposts, insulators, high tensile, woven wire. Square bales of hay. We don’t have good storage space for rounds rolls. Water, human supplies…no clothing!
Volunteer
- Pigeon Community Center
- 9am-4pm daily
- Mutual aid efforts and community sharing of resources
- Civilian Disaster Response Organization is seeking volunteers at the WNC Stockyard (click for more information)