The need for relief in western North Carolina continues to grow for Hurricane Helene victims. Based on what they’re seeing when families come to pick up supplies, organizers of donation sites say the need is still great .
One nonprofit that arrived in the region right after Helene hit, is Crisis Response International , an organization that mobilizes emergency relief supplies, volunteer workers, mobile kitchens, medical personnel, chaplains, and clean-up crews to help people in a crisis and disaster.
“We hit the ground here and set up a point of distribution, started cooking food and one of the things we love to do is just sit down and listen to people’s stories,” Founder Sean Malone said. He added that his distribution sites have been packed with more than 1,000 people each day, and he is surprised how the need is so big despite it being two weeks since Helene hit.
Crisis Response International came to the Arden area after one of their volunteers, Farrin Cole asked for help in his community. Cole has volunteered with Crisis Response International in Ukraine, but never did he think his community would need the help.