Coming together after the storm

A Note from Joy

Greetings,

While it has been a heavy month for many North Carolinians, I’m heartened by the way our state’s philanthropic and nonprofit communities have come together to support people affected by Hurricane Helene.Helene underscored the importance of several things we care about here at ZSR:

• Supporting local public schools, which are serving as vital community hubs for storm response and recovery,
• Preparing NC for the impacts of climate change while pushing for systemic changes to mitigate future disasters like Helene,
• Ensuring just and inclusive policies so individuals, families and small businesses can recover quicker from disasters when they strike,
• Increasing access to accurate news and information so people can get the resources they need,
• Making voting more accessible so that even when disasters hit, all eligible voters can make their voices heard. ?

ZSR is?providing $795,000 in initial relief funding ?for our partners working in Western NC. The region has suffered terrible loss, and now is the time to help them recover.Long term, climate change will continue to affect all North Carolinians, from the mountains to the coast. We must work together towards sensible policies and strategies that can make our communities more resilient.All For NC,

Joy Vermillion Heinsohn

Executive Director

Get Inspired

This month, our featured stories highlight how North Carolinians are coming together after Helene. We know there are hundreds more stories we could highlight, and we are so grateful for all of you working to help our neighbors in the west.

• Colaborativa La Milpa and other local nonprofits went door-to-door to deliver emergency supplies to people in hard-to-reach areas, including Spanish-speaking families.? ?
• Mountain BizWorks is providing loans and rapid relief grants to small business owners who are in crisis. Their Rebuilding Together Grant Fund aims to raise $20 million to provide immediate relief to those hardest hit, giving them a critical lifeline to stay afloat and vital encouragement as they work to rebuild and recover.? ?
• MountainTrue is testing wells and soils for toxins, clearing debris and addressing storm-related pollution. Their Creation Care Alliance is coordinating a congregation-led relief effort in hard-hit areas of Yancey and Mitchell counties, and their MountainStrong Recovery Fund is helping meet immediate needs and ensure the region’s long-term resiliency. ?
• NC Counts Coalition members from across the state united to support their fellow coalition members and communities in Western North Carolina by organizing supply drives and delivering essential resources to the area.? ?
• North Carolina Housing Coalition is advocating for a 90-day pause on evictions and foreclosures to allow time for people affected by Helene to fully recover. ?The Coalition is also compiling a database of recovery updates and resources for WNC.? ?
• The North Carolina Local News Lab Fund 's network of trusted local news sources are working around the clock to get accurate information to people. With mis- and disinformation on the rise, this work is critical to ensure people in the region can get the help they need. ?
• NC Sustainable Energy Association and several partners helped set up microgrids and solar-powered generators so that areas without power could charge cell phones, power medical and mobility devices and use WiFi.? ?
• Down Home North Carolina activated its extensive, community-based networks to meet people’s immediate needs, from delivering food and water to removing fallen trees from driveways to conducting wellness checks.?

What's New with ZSR?

• We announced $795,000 in initial emergency relief funding for our nonprofit partners working in Western NC. ?
• ZSR Executive Director Joy Vermillion Heinsohn wrote an op-ed for WRAL about how existing philanthropic and nonprofit infrastructure and networks can be mobilized to complement government efforts in times of crisis.? ?
• We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Joel Fleishman, a friend of ZSR, founding director of the public policy program at Duke University and scholar of philanthropy. Here’s a lovely tribute to Professor Fleishman that honors his incredible career of service. ??