.jpg)
What started from a trip to take needed supplies to North Carolina after the state had been hard hit with floods from Hurricane Helene resulted in the creation of Appalachian Hope 4 U organization that has restored donated and purchased used campers for use by families who lost homes, reported Christina Huger with the Mountain View Farms of Fairfield speaking to the Rockbridge Breakfast Club in late January.
So far the 501(c)3 charity has provided 11 trailers that have been refurbished to families who lost homes in the flooding a nd storms. T hey h ave four more currently being refurbished or ready to be moved down to North Carolina, she reported.
The campers are packed with donated supplies and food items and are presented to a church organization that selects families getting the trailers based on need. The trailers they provide become the property of the church and when one family finishes with the use of the trailer, it is refurbished and passed on to a new family.
Huger reported the need is truly great as many people lost homes, businesses and farms much of which was not covered by insurance. Roads and infrastructure four months after the disaster have yet to be fully restored.
Many people are living in tents or with friends and relatives and the campers have been most welcome, she said. Federal aid has been limited and slow in coming, she said. Most of the help has come from churches, charities and individuals, she noted.
“Even months since the flooding, the needs of the people there are huge,” she said. “FEMA provided vouchers for people to stay in motels but this is only for a limited time and cleanup and rebuilding takes months to complete. Many lost vehicles so transportation is a problem.”
The Appalachian Hope 4 U Facebook page and Tik-Tok have pictures of the organization’s work. Other information on the organization can be found on webpage www.FeedTheNeedFournation.orgwhich partnered with the group.
Huger reported things around Ashville are being repaired now but away from the city, the need is still great and basic infrastructure is still far from back to normal.
Huger also praised the local quilting group, Rockbridge Piecemakers Quilt Guild, for making quilts that go in each of the trailers and stays with the family after they are able to move out of the trailer and start to rebuild their lives.
