Elk River Helping Hands

05/26/2026

Our prayers go out to Henderson and Transylvania Counties. It’s too soon. 💔

05/03/2026

Don’t miss this great event and opportunity to support Elk River Helping Hands!

Get tickets online for Turnstiles here.

04/26/2026

Important news for landowners of forested tracts: The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture block grant to support Hurricane Helene recovery. Part of these disaster recovery funds will be administered by the N.C. Forest Service through a new Timber Loss Relief Program (TLRP). TLRP funds will be used to partially compensate eligible woodland owners for the value of timber loss as a result of Hurricane Helene.

The TLRP began accepting landowner applications yesterday (April 20, 2026), and will remain open for a two-month period, until June 12, 2026. TLRP timber damage assessment reports associated with a landowner’s TLRP application will need to be submitted by July 10, 2026.

To begin the application process, landowners should contact their local N.C. Forest Service county ranger’s office directly. If staff are unavailable in that office, the N.C. Forest Service district offices overseeing county offices can be contacted. Contact information is available here: https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/nc-forest-service/contacts

03/25/2026

02/24/2026

Great news for Elk River Helping Hands and other Organizations in our area! These funds will allow us to continue to help people in their ongoing recovery from the ravages of Helene. Read the Avery Journal story here:

WNC — The North Carolina Community Foundation has awarded 108 grants totaling $9 million from its Disaster Relief Fund to support long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.

02/12/2026

The Avery County Long Term Recovery Group hosted a great Resource Fair yesterday in Crossnore. 🎉

If you missed it, no worries! You will have 2 more opportunities to attend.

Why attend? Well, besides seeing all of the friendly, cheerful faces, door prizes and food…

There will be representatives from so many of the amazing organizations that have been so helpful in our recovery.

Perhaps there’s a resource that you are waiting to hear back from - or one you didn’t even know existed!

Just to mention a few…

✅ Samaritans Purse
✅ Lutheran Disaster Response
✅ Pisgah Legal Services
✅ Mayland Community College
✅ High Country Community Health
✅ Down Home NC
✅ Smart Recovery Avery
✅ UMCOR
✅ United Way
✅ Bridges For Avery

And Many, many More!!

Hope to see you all next Tuesday at Plumtree Presbyterian Church, 3-6pm!

02/03/2026

02/01/2026

Notice to LTRG Members:

Starting Tuesday, May 6 at 9:00 a.m., the LTRG will begin hosting monthly online community meetings open to the public. These virtual meetings will give community members the opportunity to hear directly from LTRG leadership about ongoing recovery efforts, recent progress, and future plans. The meetings will also include time for community questions and feedback. The meetings will take place on the first Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom, beginning May 6. Anyone is welcome to attend via the zoom link below.

“Our goal is to make the work we’re doing as transparent and accessible as possible,” said Dr. Charles Dunn, LTRG Board Chair. “We want the community to feel informed, supported, and confident in the recovery process as it continues to unfold.”

Zoom links will be shared ahead of each meeting on the Avery County LTRG website and social media platforms. You can also stay informed by signing up for the LTRG’s email list found on their website.

To learn more and stay updated, visit www.averyltrg.com.

We look forward to seeing you next week!

01/29/2026

The NC Private Road and Bridge Program has opened the applications for reimbursement for work done on a damaged private bridge or road as a result of Tropical Storm Helene. 👷 🏗️ 🚧
Fill out application on our site, ncdps.gov/helene/prb