Hope for the High Country:  Part 2

Sustaining the Recovery After Hurricane Helene

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the true spirit of North Carolina shone brightest. Led by the dedicated team at Queen City Homestore, an incredible community of volunteers rallied in Pineville to deliver hope when it was needed most—packing over half a million meals, 10,000 hygiene kits, and 3,500 snack bags for neighbors in crisis.

Today, 18 months later, the initial headlines may have faded, but the recovery continues. Rebuilding a community is a marathon, not a sprint, and the need remains deeply pressing.

As the summer months approach, a quiet challenge faces families in Avery County and the surrounding High Country. For many children, summer isn’t a season of vacations—it’s a time of food insecurity, as the dependable safety net of school breakfasts and lunches disappears.

Bridging the Summer Meal Gap

To ensure no child goes hungry this season, No Child Hungry is joining forces with Flagship Supporters Queen City Homestore and the Grandfather Community Foundation.

Our mission is clear: On June 20th, we will gather to pack at least 125,000 meals and scores of snack bags to fully resupply Feeding Avery Families, an incredible local food pantry providing vital on-the-ground relief.

How You Can Help

We need your hands, your heart, and your support to make this happen. There are two powerful ways to get involved:

• Volunteer: Join the energy and excitement! Bring your friends, family, or coworkers out on June 20th to help us pack meals and snack bags. It’s a rewarding, high-impact hands-on experience.

• Donate: Every dollar goes a long way. The cost to put a meal in the hands of a child in need is just under 70¢. Your tax-deductible donation goes directly toward purchasing ingredients, multiplying the number of meals we can deliver to local families.

Together, we can turn a season of hardship into a summer of hope!  We can't wait to see you there!