Hurricane Helene: One Year Later

One year ago, Hurricane Helene swept across our region, leaving deep scars— homes lost , jobs disrupted, access to food suddenly uncertain— and in many heartbreaking cases, lives lost.

In the face of overwhelming grief and need, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC — with the support of thousands of donors, volunteers, and partners — mobilized to deliver immediate relief and stand beside our neighbors when it mattered most.

Today, we remain — walking alongside communities on the long road to recovery, working every day to build a future rooted in resilience and shared wellbeing.

THANK YOU for standing with us!

🎥 Watch: The Road Ahead

See how your generosity continues to make a difference for families across Northwest North Carolina.

By the Numbers - One Year of Impact

• Nearly 4 million meals provided with an emphasis on fresh, nutritious food: eggs, dairy, produce, and meat

• More than $2.4 million invested to restore agency infrastructure, including kitchen equipment, cold storage, and a new outreach space in Western Ashe County

• Over $300,000 in grants to local farms to restore and repair land

• $100,000/month in ongoing food supplies for impacted communities

  
  

Resilience in Action

Reaching Further in Ashe County

After Hurricane Helene, the team at Ashe Harvest Ministries faced surging need across rural western Ashe County — where steep roads and scattered households make food access especially difficult.

With thanks to all those who supported Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC's Hurricane Helene response efforts, the ministry now has new vehicles — expanding their ability to reach isolated residents with food, supplies, and care.

“This work is about more than logistics,” Michael shares. “It’s about love in action. These vehicles help us keep our promise to the people of Ashe County: that we will show up, especially when it’s hard.”

Michael’s story is just one example of how community, compassion, and commitment have shaped the path from crisis to recovery. It reflects what has happened — and is still happening — across our region: neighbors showing up for neighbors, partners expanding their reach, and the work of rebuilding carried out with grit and grace.

This is the heart of our response to Hurricane Helene — and the promise we carry forward: to keep showing up, especially when it’s hard.

Timeline – A Year in Recovery

• September 27, 2024: Hurricane Helene strikes western North Carolina. Second Harvest launches emergency response within hours, including immediate action to mobilize emergency food, water, and resources — focusing on counties with the greatest need (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Watauga, and Wilkes, plus three counties normally serviced by our sister food bank - MANNA including Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey).

• Late September–October 2024: Emergency food boxes, shelf-stable supplies, bottled water, diapers, and hygiene items are distributed to residents in collaboration with local partners.

• October 2024 – March 2025: Daily hot meals are prepared by Second Harvest’s Providence team and Winston-Salem-area chefs for displaced families, clean-up crews, and first responders.

• Winter–Spring 2025: Ongoing shipments of fresh foods and essentials continue, including sustained support for local food pantries. Reinvestment in infrastructure begins: funding provided for walk-in coolers, freezers, storage equipment, and leased space for outreach.

• Spring–Summer 2025: Recovery grants awarded to local farms for creek bank restoration, water supply repair, and storm recovery. Partner agency investments expand.

• Fall 2025 (Present Day): Second Harvest is still investing $100,000/month in food support to Helene-affected counties. Over $5.27 million has been invested in relief, recovery, and long-term resilience to date.

Rooted in Resilience. Building Forward, Together.

At Second Harvest, we believe in more than just restoring what was lost. We believe in building forward — together — creating stronger, more resilient communities where every neighbor has access to the food and resources they need to thrive.That’s why we’ve invested in long-term solutions, from equipping our partner food assistance agencies to supporting local farms — ensuring that when future storms come, we’re all better prepared.

One year after Hurricane Helene, our work continues — not just in response to disaster, but in the daily work of building healthier, more food-secure communities for all our neighbors.

With your continued support and partnership, we can keep showing up — with nourishment, dignity, and hope — wherever the need is greatest.

Stand with us. Give today. Volunteer. Share this post. Because everyone deserves to eat — in times of crisis, and every day after.