NEWLAND, N.C. — As thousands of people across North Carolina's Avery County rebuild from scratch after Helene, organizations like Feeding Avery Families have been there to help through the recovery process.
Using donated food, clothing and other essentials, the group has stepped up to seek solutions for families.
“We are kind of operating at three-to-four times capacity right now," Sally Loftis, the executive director of Feeding Avery Families, explained.
Its warehouse in Newland is the beating heart of this fractured community.
“Before we’d be open one day a week ... we would normally serve 500 families a month," Loftis said. "Now, we served 500 families in the first four days of Helene.”
In just three weeks, the group estimates they served almost 10,000 meals.
“We’ve had people pull up and say 'Everything I have is in my car,'" Loftis recalled.
Living off basic essentials, “people are just trying to figure out how to make something different," Loftis said. "They’ve lived off sandwiches and MREs (meals ready to eat)."
This level of response takes a village.
"These are all volunteers," Loftis said of its workforce. "We only have two staff members.”
People who have experienced loss themselves say the support has been overwhelming.
If you’d like to donate or volunteer, you are asked to call ahead to ensure there is room. The group wants to make sure no donation spoils before it can be used.
The organization is located at 189 Old Vale Road in Newland.
Information on how to donate or receive assistance can be found on the Feeding Avery Families website or by calling 828-783-8506.
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.