The needsare shifting . . . and will shift again.

So manypeople have sent immediate-need supplies to help after Hurricane Helene. Thank you so much. I live in Ashe County (not to be confused with Buncombe County, where Asheville is) and it has been ablessing to our community! Those who can be reached have been able to get foodand water as needed. Volunteers are being fed. These needs will be ongoing for a long time.

Rescue effortsare still ongoing in certain areas and some people still have not been reached due to their roads or driveways being completely washed away. Aside from this, the biggest problems rightnow are power outages (which the power companies are doing a phenomenal job ofrestoring) and many of our bridges and roads have been destroyed.

I have beenhearing rumblings about a conspiracy to keep help from the area – that peopleare being turned away with truckloads of goods.

I do notknow anything about this firsthand, but I would urge you to consider reachingout before coming to the area to deliver goods at this point. The needs aredifferent everywhere. Here in Ashe County, people don’t need clothes right now if their homes have beendestroyed and they are sleeping at the high school. In Asheville, I knowlooting is a huge problem and they are probably trying to handle things in a completelydifferent way. (And when I say looting, I don’t mean stealing food they need tosurvive . . . I mean stealing guitars from a damaged music shop, so don’t even . . .)

WeAPPRECIATE all help – we’ve been asking for it – and we thank you for all thatyou’ve already done. We’ve always had the poor among us and the food banks willcontinue to be grateful for the donations of food, formula, diapers, etc. Thereare people who are going to need these items now more than ever.

Once ourinfrastructure is functioning again, please remember that many homes were destroyedor are now uninhabitable. We already had a housing shortage and now I can’teven imagine what that is going to look like, especially with winter coming.

I’m not surewhat the answer is, I just know that our needs are shifting . . . and they’regoing to continue to shift. I still recommend Samaritan’s Purse. For the longer-termneeds, Appalachia Service Project may also be a good one. My husband servedwith them back in the early 80s and they are still going strong with anexcellent rating on Charity Navigator. They will be mobilizing volunteers toserve with long-term recovery efforts and have a place on their website toleave your contact information, skill sets, etc.

Whatever youdo, don’t forget about us. Although our needs are shifting, we still need helpand are GOING to need help for a LONG time.

And whateveryou’ve already done, thank you!