IMPACT Recipients
In 2025, 57 organizations received a total of $2.6 million in IMPACT Grant funding to address critical needs resulting from Hurricane Helene, supporting efforts across WNC Bridge Foundation’s three focus areas: Basic Needs, Mental Health, and Youth Development.
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Basic Needs
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
Will support staffing capacity enhancing the organization’s capacity to lead affordable housing and disaster recovery efforts in the region.
Asheville Buncombe Community Land Trust
Will enable ABCLT to continue providing comprehensive disaster relief services including temporary housing, rental assistance, and individualized case management—for low-income BIPOC households affected by Helene.
Beacon of Hope Services
Funding received will allow organization to purchase washing machine for its laundromat that supports clients and individuals impacted by Helene.
Bounty and Soul
Will address both immediate and long-term food and health equity needs through mobile markets, household recovery assistance, social service navigation, and the replication of its trauma-informed food access model in underserved areas. This investment will increase food security and restore storm-impacted homes.
Burke United Christian Ministries
Will expand its essential services in response to the long-term impacts of Helene. BUCM provides critical resources: food, shelter, clothing, and financial assistance to individuals and families experiencing poverty in Burke County.
CareReach
Will support Community Health Worker program coordinators serving McDowell County and the northern mountain counties to address ongoing post-Helene needs.
Colaborativa La Milpa
Will support staffing for Colaborativa La Milpa’s Casa de Apoyo Mutuo program, including its free community market (El Mercadito), warehouse operations (La Bodega), and case management services (Consulta Tu Compa). These roles, filled by trusted local residents, are essential for providing food, resources, and personalized support to Emma community members recovering from Hurricane Helene.
Community Housing Coalition of Madison County
Will support staffing capacity to advance Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, including coordinating home repairs, replacements, and new affordable housing development for impacted families.
Covenant Community Church
Will support essential staffing at Covenant Community Village to provide case management, resource navigation, and property maintenance for families displaced by Hurricane Helene.
Dig In! Yancey Community Garden
Will support staffing and program expansion to increase food production, community education, and access to fresh, local produce for families impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Equal Plates Project
Will support purchasing local farm products for preparing nutritious meals for families facing food insecurity after Hurricane Helene.
First United Methodist Church of Waynesville
Will expand staffing and recovery services to meet increased demand for basic needs and housing repairs, supporting families affected by Hurricane Helene and advancing long-term community recovery.
Grahamtown Team
Will support “The Gathering Place,” a vital community space in Grahamtown that expands food pantry operations, provides a welcoming hub for seniors and youth to connect, and serves as a center for health, recovery, and long-term support services for families impacted by Hurricane Helene and rising costs.
High Country Caregivers
Will support HCC in providing safe, permanent housing for families in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties affected by Hurricane Helene.
Hinton Rural Life Center
Will support Hinton’s disaster recovery efforts by coordinating volunteer-led home repairs for families impacted by Hurricane Helene, with a focus on reaching vulnerable and Latinx households.
Jackson County Department of Public Health
Will support the Mobile Health Initiative to provide primary care, health education, and emergency medical support to underserved and remote areas in Jackson County using mobile clinics, critical when natural disasters occur.
JMPRO TV
Will expand the rapid response team by training more Latinx and rural residents as community reporters, helping connect those affected by Hurricane Helene to vital information and resources.
McDowell County EMS
Will address urgent health, safety, and recovery needs of Hurricane Helene survivors by funding essential items, services, and hands-on assistance.
Meals on Wheels of Asheville and Buncombe County
Will support expanding senior nutrition services post-Hurricane Helene by covering food costs for three new delivery routes.
Mitchell County Long-Term Resilience Group
Will support MCLTRG’s capacity to meet Helene recovery needs.
Mountain Housing Opportunities
Will support Essential Home Repair program to provide no-cost critical health and safety-related home repairs for very low-income, elderly, disabled, and vulnerable homeowners in Buncombe County.
Restoration House WNC
Will support executive leadership to guide programs and partnerships that provide trauma-informed care and housing support, with a focus on individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Rise Disaster Relief and Recovery
Will provide essential building materials and fund driveway and road repairs using skilled volunteers and contractors to support home recovery in the three-county area of Avery, Yancey, Mitchell affected by Hurricane Helene.
Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity
Will support the rebuilding three energy-efficient homes and making critical repairs for families displaced by Hurricane Helene.
Share Thy Bread
Will support the ongoing coordination, purchase, and weekly distribution of fresh produce from local farms to neighbors in need and those impacted by Helene.
Sharing House
Will support a key staff role to manage food operations, strengthen volunteer efforts, and launch home grocery deliveries for residents impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Swannanoa Communities Together
Will support the Swannanoa Community Care Program by helping provide food, basic needs, disaster recovery support, and a welcoming community center for those affected by Hurricane Helene.
Town of Burnsville
Will fund a new drone program for Yancey County first responders to improve search, rescue, and disaster response, especially in emergencies like
TRACTOR Food and Farms
Will help TRACTOR buy local produce to support small farmers and deliver healthy food to families across WNC, aiding both food access and farm recovery after Hurricane Helene.
Transylvania Habitat for Humanity
Will support Transylvania Habitat for Humanity’s Critical Repair Program by funding 10–15 essential home repairs for low-income, hurricane-impacted residents, addressing urgent safety, accessibility, and health hazards to help vulnerable families remain safely housed.
WNC From the Ground Up
Will expand capacity to deliver fresh, local food to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene by supporting farm purchases, transportation, storage, and partnerships strengthening food security and regional recovery.
Working Wheels
Will support Working Wheels’ efforts to provide safe, reliable transportation for individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene through vehicle repairs and allowing for the purchase of essential tools to repair vehicles.
Yokefellow Service Center
Will support staffing at Yokefellow to improve donation processing, inventory management, and store operations, helping meet increased community needs following Hurricane Helene.
Bounty and Soul
Mental Health
All Souls Counseling Center
Will provide low- or no-cost therapy sessions to underserved individuals and couples across WNC, particularly those facing financial and access barriers. Will support expanded services—both in-person and via telehealth for communities deeply impacted by Hurricane Helene and ongoing disparities in mental health care access.
Blue Ridge Hope
Will be used to provide therapy sessions for uninsured or underinsured individuals on Blue Ridge Hope’s waitlists in Rutherford and Buncombe counties. This support will expand access to essential mental health care, helping to reduce financial barriers and address a post-Hurricane Helene surge in mental health needs.
Centro Unido Latino Americano
Will support Healthy Minds program by expanding access to free, bilingual, trauma-informed mental health services for underserved, predominantly Latino and BIPOC communities affected by Hurricane Helene.
Heart of Horse Sense
Will expand trauma-informed equine-assisted therapy services by enabling free access for first responders, children, and community members impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Jewish Family Services of WNC
Will provide scholarships for uninsured and underinsured adults under 60 to access affordable mental health counseling by reducing waitlists and expanding capacity to deliver timely, strengths-based therapy that supports resilience and well-being among vulnerable community members impacted by Hurricane Helene and ongoing mental health challenges.
MAHEC
Will support a therapist at MAHEC’s Newbridge clinic to expand mental health services in rural areas near Buncombe County impacted by Helene.
Operation Gateway
Will support Voices of Affrilachia initiative to reduce mental health stigma and increase culturally relevant behavioral health care access for BIPOC communities, especially justice-involved individuals and their families, and those impacted by Helene.
Safelight
Will expand Safelight’s Counseling Center by adding bilingual staff to increase access to trauma-informed care for adult survivors of violence and abuse, and Helene.
SparkPoint
Will support “Stronger Than the Storm” initiative by expanding trauma-informed emotional recovery services for Transylvania County residents impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The Center for Rural Health Innovation
Will expand school-based telehealth program to improve mental health care for rural students impacted by Hurricane Helene through added staff and stronger care coordination.
All Souls Counseling Center
Youth Development
Asheville City Schools Foundation
Will support transportation, meals, and high school mentor stipends for the IRL/WORX summer camp, a free career-connected learning program for Asheville middle schoolers disproportionately impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC
Will support increased staffing and travel costs for county program coordinators providing post-disaster family support in six WNC counties, while also funding trauma-informed training and mental wellness programming for staff, mentors, and families.
Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau
Will support BGCP’s expansion and recovery efforts by helping increase service capacity enhance targeted social-emotional and academic support, and deepen family engagement, particularly for youth and families impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
Will support a comprehensive youth leadership program that empowers students through experiential learning, community service, and career exploration, with a focus on youth impacted by Helene.
Helpmate
Will expand trauma-informed services for children in their emergency domestic violence shelter, providing safety, healing-centered case management, parent education, and family wellness programming, addressing the compounded effects of domestic violence and Hurricane Helene to support long-term recovery and resilience for children and their families.
Hights
Will support Summer Career Academy, providing a critical role in rebuilding human capital, especially in the aftermath of Helene, preparing at-risk youth for future employment, postsecondary education, and civic leadership.
Literacy Together
Will expand Youth Literacy by increasing tutoring access, supporting English learners impacted by Hurricane Helene, and strengthening partnerships to help struggling readers in Buncombe County.
Partners Aligned Toward Health
Will expand PATH’s youth programs in Mitchell and Yancey counties to support mental health and resilience for youth impacted by Hurricane Helene through leadership training, trauma-informed tools, and improved access.
PIVOTPoint WNC
Will expand after-school program to reach more youth affected by Hurricane Helene, providing therapeutic support through adventure-based mental health groups.
Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe
Will support one-on-one literacy tutoring for elementary students, especially multilingual and Black youth helping address reading gaps from school time lost due to Hurricane Helene.
Thrive Appalachia
Will support THRIVE Appalachia in creating a permanent home in Yancey County, with a strong focus on youth engagement. Funding will help advance the design and construction of a youth-focused carpentry studio using hurricane-felled trees—promoting hands-on learning, environmental stewardship, and long-term community impact.
Umoja Health Wellness and Justice Collective
Will support integration of a culturally responsive social-emotional learning curriculum into Umoja’s youth programs, strengthening resilience, leadership, and connection for youth, including those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Western Youth Network
Will support youth mental health in Avery County, including those affected by Hurricane Helene, by strengthening mentorship and expanding programs that build coping skills and resilience.
Yancey County Schools
Will support certified tutors to implement a personalized academic support program at Mountain Heritage High School, helping students recover learning lost due to Hurricane Helene through targeted in-school and after-school tutoring.
Umoja Health Wellness and Justice Collective
