Almost 6 months
It has been almost 6 months since Helene slammed into WNC, ravaging the mountains and destroying Garren Creek Rd.
As autumn settled in and the trees shed their leaves, the scars left behind became even more visible—deep wounds in the earth that served as daily reminders of the hardship we continue to endure. Each trip home from town along that long and winding road was a journey through our collective grief, a reminder that while time moved forward, the pain of loss lingered, and we have so much healing ahead of us.
Half a year has passed, and though the road to recovery has been long, we have persevered. While the landscape may never look quite the same, signs of renewal and progress are beginning to emerge. Driveways once washed away are being restored, culverts clogged with debris are finally being cleared, and portions of our road are finally being rebuilt! These small but significant victories remind us that healing is not instant, but it is happening.
Our Foundation has also grown and evolved during this time of change. We are thrilled to welcome a new Youth Volunteer and Programming Coordinator. April Skye, a junior at AC Reynolds High School has grown up on Garren Creek Rd. She does a great job helping, and inspiring the next generation to be engaged in giving back to our community.
The Foundation continues to bring people together, hosting events like the Holiday Toy Drive, an incredible effort that provided gifts and holiday cheer to over 100 families. We held a Winter Heating event, where we were able to provide various sources of heat and winter wear for over 200 households. We have been lucky enough to be able to provide almost 2,000 pounds of food to local community members. We’ve officially adopted a 2-mile stretch of GCR that we will clean quarterly. Our weekly community dinners brought people together, reminding us all why we do this work: to uplift, to support, and to create moments of hope even in the darkest times.
With our previous location no longer available, finding a new space to provide a food pantry, host our events, and weekly community dinners has been a top priority. It has not been an easy process, but we have worked tirelessly to make our new space usable, ensuring that we can once again provide a place for connection, support, and shared meals. The journey is ongoing, but with the resilience and dedication of our community, we know that brighter days lie ahead.
We will be able to announce our new location soon! We are hosting workdays to get things up and running, and hope to announce our first event at the new location this Spring! For more information, to see about volunteer or donation opportunities, get in touch about relief work, or any questions or comments please email info@garrencreek.org.