Many have expressed interest in helping those severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. That support can address a variety of needs: 1) emergency assistance, 2) initial
remediation and restoration, and 3) long-term rebuilding. Fortunately, Warren Wilson is part of a connectional church that offers trustworthy options to support all three stages of the relief effort.
- The session at WWPC has established the Buncombe County Hurricane Helene Emergency Relief Fund. Contributions to this fund will enable the pastor to respond immediately to emergency needs of members and friends of the congregation, the college community, and the Buncombe County community at large. Distributions larger than $200 will require session approval. You may support this fund by giving online through the church website, or by giving cash or checks clearly marked for the Hurricane Helene Emergency Relief Fund. You can place checks in the offering plate or mail them to the church.
- The Presbytery of Western North Carolina is also preparing to aid rebuilding in the immediate future. The General Council approved using reserve funds to hire a relief coordinator for the next two years to coordinate relief efforts within the presbytery. The presbytery has also established the PWNC Hurricane Relief Fund, which will provide assistance to individuals within the boundaries of the presbytery, as well as to support work groups that come to the presbytery. Contributions to the fund will also purchase supplies to be used at worksites. All contributions will go directly to relief efforts; the presbytery will use other funds to cover the cost of the relief coordinator position and any administrative costs. You may contribute directly to the presbytery fund by using the PWC Recovery Link on the presbytery website or by mailing checks to Presbytery of Western North Carolina Treasurer, 114 Silver Creek Rd, Morganton, NC 28655. Alternatively, you can make your gifts to Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church and clearly mark them for the PWNC Hurricane Relief Fund. As with other gifts, the treasurer will transmit 100% of your contributions to the presbytery.
- Presbytery Disaster Assistance (PDA) is the disaster response and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church (USA). PDA has already sent an assessment team to western North Carolina, and a senior leadership team met with pastors and other leaders back in late October 2024. However, the primary focus of PDA efforts is long-term rebuilding and restoration. PDA remains on the scene until the relief effort is complete. You may give directly by using the PDA Link on its website or by mailing checks to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, PO Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. If you want your gift to be used in western North Carolina to respond to damage from Hurricane Helene, you should designate it for Project DR000169. Alternatively, you can make your clearly marked gift to Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, and the church will forward them to PDA. Here also, our treasurer will transmit 100% of your contributions to PDA.
Please give as you are able and as you are led. You may trust that gifts to any of these funds will provide the support described.