Beloved Asheville, a nonprofit organization based within Asheville, North Carolina, recently donated thousands of gifts to many children and families affected by the events of Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
What started off as a tropical cyclone and quickly grew in devastating power, Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast and worked its way through much of the southeastern United States in late September, leaving death and destruction in its wake across a total of six southern states.
Among one of those states most affected was North Carolina, who received half of the entire counted amount of death tolls made due to the terrifying storm. Communities such as Asheville who are located within the state’s western, mountainous region were particularly affected by the raging storm due to high amounts of rain and landslides caused by the hurricane.
An organization established back in 2009 as a means of helping bring connectivity and community within the city via promoting health, equity, home and opportunity for all within the city, as well as help establish and do charitable works throughout the area, Beloved Asheville has been a major supporter of helping those most affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. During this past holiday season, the organization helped to bring holiday cheer to those affected by donating thousands of gifts to children across the city who were left devastated by the storm, alongside their families.
According to the group’s Christmas post made on social media platform X, toys were given to children across the city, with all of them left feeling utter joy upon receiving gifts for Christmas this past year. “Over 3,000 toys found their way into little hands, and just as many hearts overflowed with happiness,” stated Beloved Asheville within the post.
Additional donations made to families included entire tiny homes that were constructed and sent to those who have lost their homes to the disaster. For the construction of the tiny homes, great amounts of support have been received from both Lowe’s and Nascar, whose support helped in shipping the tiny homes to their destinations.
Everything mentioned ultimately brought about not only another season of gift giving to those in need, but also a season of hope as the city of Asheville and all who call it home continue to rebuild and heal from the wake of one of America’s most deadly natural disasters in recent memory.
