GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — Dolly Parton’s donation to help Hurricane Helene flood victims is being used to assist those who lost their primary residences in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina.
Mountain Ways, a nonprofit dedicated to providing immediate assistance to Hurricane Helene flood victims, received a $2 million combined gift from Parton, The Dollywood Foundation, and several of Parton’s businesses on October 4 . The nonprofit has now launched its assistance initiatives to help those who lost 100% of their primary residence due to the flooding after Helene in one of the disaster-declared counties in Tennessee and North Carolina.
- Tennessee: Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington.
- Western North Carolina: Ashe, Avery, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, Yancey, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
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“I wasn’t sure what I could do, but I knew I needed to help in some way, so I recently donated $1 million to Mountain Ways,” said Parton. “All of my East Tennessee businesses; Dollywood Parks & Resorts, My Stampede, Pirates Voyage, and The Dollywood Foundation also combined to donate an additional $1 million because they wanted to help as well. And help is exactly what I’m asking everyone to do right now. Be a little bit of light during this dark time and give if you are able or volunteer your time to help.”