Six months have passed since Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina and East Tennessee. Since that day in late September, Lowe's has deployed hundreds of red vest volunteers and dispatched millions of dollars in funding to people affected by the disaster. Still, so many residents are living their day-to-day lives in unimaginable circumstances.
Just across the state line from North Carolina into Tennessee, Christine Buckley is one of those people. Christine and her husband Jerry were in their home on the afternoon of the storm. Jerry recently had a stroke and has limited speech and mobility and is in a wheelchair. Being alone, they had no way to escape and had to ride out the worst of the destruction, all while they listened to the sounds of water rushing and feared their home would be washed away. Luckily, they were safe, but their mobile home was flooded and significantly damaged. It was almost unlivable, but that is where the couple has stayed since the storm. That is, until Lowe's, in partnership with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP), built an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible tiny home where Christine and Jerry will temporarily live until ASP completes repairs on their existing home. The house may be small, but the impact is massive. Christine says they have not slept on a bed or been able to shower in their own home since that fateful day in September. Now, they can do both. It's something Christine says means the world to Jerry.
Melisa Winburn, Appalachia Service Project president and CEO, says the temporary housing structures are a beacon of light for so many in the community. "Seeing the joy on one homeowners face of being able to sleep in an actual bed – these temporary units are not just meeting basic needs but are helping to rebuild hope for so many."
While the efforts have been impactful, the need persists. Lowe's will continue to build and deliver temporary homes for residents affected in the area, donating an additional $1 million to support the effort.
With the help of red vests and Lowe’s funding two other mission-critical operations will receive support through the latest donation. Keeping skilled trades at top of mind, Lowe’s is partnering with National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and its launch of its Rapid Recovery Construction Academy in partnership with Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock. NCCER provides free construction training and job placement services to individuals in areas impacted by natural disasters. Plus, Lowe’s funds will be supporting Purple Heart Homes and its work to provide critical home repairs for veterans in disaster-impacted counties in Western North Carolina. Repairs will help service-connected, disabled veterans safely remain in their homes.
Even as time passes and attention shifts to other disaster-affected areas, Lowe’s is committed to the communities in Western North Carolina and those lives were disrupted by Hurricane Helene.
