Appreciating and honoring the many individuals and groups who have helped us show up for our community will take a lifetime. There are just too many people to list (although we have tried to name some here). But as we thought more about it, we felt it was important for us to start with our United Way network. As a United Way we are all independent, locally founded and operated organizations, but we share an identity with more than 1600 other groups across the globe. One of the benefits of this is shared learning opportunities - webinars and the like. But even better are those moments when we reach out to each other to lend a kind word or hand. Honoring their kindness in this moment feels like a good thing to do. Let's pass that same spirit forward.
United Way of Southeast Louisiana
Our colleagues at United Way of Southeast Louisiana know firsthand about serving the community through a disaster, having navigated recovery after Katrina 20 years ago.
So when their team reached out after Helene to offer advice, provide technical assistance, and even “pass the hat” among their own staff to provide financial support for ours, we felt cared for by people we had never met but who knew exactly what we faced. It was a powerful example of our United Way network in action.
With news of violence and tragedy striking their community over the new year, we wanted to give you the chance to show them some love back. You can help support their fundraiser for the families of those impacted by the violence that night.
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
As we continue recovering from the damage Hurricane Helene caused in our community, we’re now seeing the suffering from disasters in California. It’s heartbreaking.
Even in these tough times, we can remind others they’re not alone. Let’s send the people of Los Angeles some encouragement and support. A kind note or donation can make a big difference as they work to heal.
United Way Worldwide
It was encouraging to have Angela Williams, UWW president and CEO, visit our community this past November and see firsthand the work we and our partners are doing in response to the disaster. Their funding, awareness-building, and technical advice have been helpful. But this network of United Ways has been a part of our learning journey for some time now - as we work to establish support for youth across our community, we have learned from and leaned on others across the nation doing similar work. And we’ve been able to share our community’s wisdom with others as well.
Community Resiliency is a Story About Teamwork
Global pandemics, climate disasters, growing economic disparities, and violent terror attacks are no longer isolated events. A new one fills our news feed daily. And while they change a community, they are no match for the creativity and tenacity of the resilient human spirit, especially when those spirits join forces to tackle the impossible.
Don’t we see that daily in Swannanoa, where people gather to rebuild homes and lives at Swannanoa Communities Together, White Horse or Silverados? And in Barnardsville at the Big Ivy Community Center? Haven’t we seen how the teams at the Center for Participatory Change or Operation Gateway connect people to the resources that can support them? Or at our schools, which have become hubs of support for families?
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is in a unique position. We are connected to grassroots and nonprofit partners, schools and higher education, local businesses, and government leaders, and we have a larger network of United Ways to lean on and learn from.
The first week after the storm was the best example of this in action. Three days after the floodwaters began to recede, a tractor-trailer arrived at our downtown office, filled to the ceiling with water, food, diapers, gasoline, and countless other relief supplies. Volunteers, mobilized in hours, unloaded every box into our conference room—transforming it into a distribution center for a community in need.
That night, the county asked us to help open a warehouse for relief supplies, and our staff was on the phone with business partners asking for help. By 8:00 a.m. the following day, volunteers from Blue Ridge Power, Eaton, and Walmart were on-site, ready to help us design and lead warehouse operations. Over the next three weeks, we distributed 2,600 boxes and 76 pallets of supplies to 68 community partners powered by 430 volunteers. This was the strength of our relationships and the power of what it means to Live United.
You can be a part of this story
