Dear Friends,
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the devastation across the impacted areas is heart-wrenching, leaving communities facing a long and difficult road to recovery.
New Hope Presbytery is a generous covenant community and we help each other during tough times. I am quite aware of your desire to be of immediate assistance. We know the recovery needs in western North Carolina will remain great in the months and years to come. We want to work collaboratively with the appropriate response teams and not to inhibit the process that is happening at this critical time. Rev. Dr. Byron Wade, General Presbyter of Western North Carolina, speaks to this matter in a recent interview. We urge you to watch his interview as you consider how your congregation might faithfully support the recovery efforts. Click here to watch his interview.
All members and churches of the Presbytery of New Hope are encouraged to give, act, and pray in response to Hurricane Helene.
GIVE
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) works on the ground with local church judicatories and helps organize volunteers in affected areas. PDA is in communication with all affected presbyteries and National VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active In Disaster) to share information and coordinate resources as damage is assessed. PDA has deployed a National Response Team to Tampa Bay Presbytery, Presbytery of Western North Carolina, Northeast Georgia Presbytery and Holston Presbytery. They have approved several initial assistance grant requests and are anticipating additional requests from affected presbyteries to help respond to needs in their communities.
At this time, the Presbytery of New Hope encourages all congregations and people to donate via the PDA website. You can give by phone, check or credit card. Click the button below for more information.
All monies raised will be used to support their recovery efforts.
ACT
There is an urgent need for emergency cleanup buckets! More than 3,000 buckets have shipped from PDA in response to Hurricane Helene, leaving the inventory less than 1,000. Click the button below to learn how your congregation can assemble and send buckets.
PRAY
Last but not least, please continue to pray for the congregations, communities, people, and recovery teams. The director of PDA, Rev. Edwin González-Castillo, recently penned a prayer in response to Hurricane Helene and we invite your congregations to pray it together.
We know that our New Hope family will show up with abundance to help those whose lives and livelihoods have been impacted by this storm. We thank you for your prayers, generosity, and support. We will continue to provide updates on how your congregation can support the recovery efforts as we receive additional information.
Shalom,
Rev. Dr. Bruce T. Grady, Executive Presbyter