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WESTERN NC SUPPORT
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Hurricane Helene has brought significant devastation to Western NC, and HUG has pivoted and mobilized to provide resources and support to some the the smaller towns and more remote locations located in Avery and Yancey Counties. We began focusing on impacting some of the most vulnerable populations in these rural, mountainous regions. While larger communities may receive quicker relief, the smaller, less accessible towns and neighborhoods are often left behind, struggling to recover from the storm’s immediate damage and the long-term effects. HUG CLTis deeply committed to ensuring that these smaller, often overlooked communities receive the help they desperately need.
The hurricane’s aftermath has highlighted the economic and infrastructural challenges that were already present in these counties. Many families were already living paycheck to paycheck, and the storm has pushed them further into hardship. Homes have been damaged or destroyed, roads are blocked or inaccessible, and basic utilities like power and heat remain unreliable. In these remote areas, residents do not have easy access to resources or the financial capacity to recover quickly. This is where we step in.
HUG is uniquely positioned to provide flexible, immediate, and long-term support to these communities. We have dedicated our resources to sourcing essential supplies to help residents navigate the harsh winter months. We understand that recovery is not just about providing temporary relief, but ensuring that these supplies and resources continue to serve the communities for months and years to come.
Larger items will support ongoing clean-up efforts, help clear debris, and facilitate fire safety and rescue operations. By working closely with local leaders and community organizations, we ensure that the most critical needs are addressed. Our flexibility allows us to adjust our efforts based on the evolving needs of the communities as they move from immediate survival to long-term recovery.
Our commitment to these small, rural areas means that we’re not just a one-time responder. We are dedicated to seeing these communities through the entire recovery process, from ensuring residents are warm and safe through the winter to helping them rebuild their homes and lives in the months and years that follow. Every dollar we receive will be used to provide sustainable, impactful support that addresses both the immediate needs and the long-term recovery of these resilient communities.
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In the first 30 days since this horrible disaster began, HUG has provided over 10,000 lbs. of supplies and resources to Avery and Yancey Counties. We will continue to make weekly visits, transitioning to being hands and hearts during the clean up and rebuilding phase. We are also providing large trucks to haul out overwhelming amounts of items that they have no space to store or organize, and we are using our amazing volunteers to do that work for them - returning any new or usable items with every visit.
Hurricane Helene has affected these counties in a way that demands long-term support, and HUG is fully dedicated to ensuring that no community is left behind. We know that recovery for these smaller populations will take time, and we are committed to walking with them every step of the way—offering assistance, compassion, and the necessary resources for a full recovery. Whether through providing immediate survival tools or facilitating the rebuilding process, our organization’s mission is to ensure that these communities not only recover but thrive once again.
For a first-person look at our first few trips to Western NC, watch our video here:
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​ RESCUING MANDALAS
We were in our offices when two women walked in and told us about a sweet, senior dog that had recently lost his human - she is in the hospital and unfortunately - would not be coming home. Even worse - is that she’s all he's known in this world.
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Mandalas had been living alone in an abandoned trailer for almost TWO MONTHS by himself. The neighbors had been taking him into his trailer at night and providing him with food and water, but he just lay there - in filth - and waited.
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Day in, and day out, he waited.
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Every day, he lay in the road, watching for her to come home. The neighbors had begun tying hm to a tree across the street to keep him from being hit by a car, but even then.... he sat and waited.
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Every second of every day, he waited.
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This sweet guy deserved a chance - he deserved more than a life of laying on hot pavement. He deserved more than a life of loneliness and confusion. More than a life of laying in filth and being tended to by strangers while he stares in the distance waiting for someone that’s never coming home.
Our hearts were breaking with every minute we knew he was alone. But we were committed to saving this sweet soul, no matter what it took.
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And it just happened that what it took - was a sweet angel of a woman to take him in and remind him how it felt to be loved , some local vets to nurse him back to health, and the unwavering dedication of our HUG team and community to come together and make sure that he would never, ever wait again....
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Please take a moment to watch Mandalas' story and our HUG efforts here:
​ HUG FREE FOOD PANTRY
Since the inception of our Free Food Pantry Program in January of 2021, HUG has provided over 25,000 full bags of groceries to struggling families and individuals in Mecklenburg County.
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In 2024 alone, we have distributed over 30,000+ Free Diapers, 20,000+ free hygiene items, 15,000+ Adult Incontinence Supplies, and 9,000 feminine hygiene products to those in need.
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Through the power of collaboration and partnerships, we have been able to TRIPLE OUR DISTRIBUTION WHILE ELIMINATING OVER 80% OF OUR OVERHEAD AND COSTS. This incredible system of connections has allowed us to continue to grow and expand our impact, regardless of major funding. As we pursue grants and sponsorships from those who connect and believe in our work and efforts, we are still providing tens of thousands of crucial supplies and items to those that need them the most.
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THIS is why we are so dedicated to our community and beyond proud of our organization. So we give thanks to all of our private and individual donors, sponsors, and committed volunteers for your tireless efforts and support... and we can't wait to double these numbers in 2025!
​ HUG HAS PROUDLY DISTRIBUTED OVER 80,000 POUNDS OF FOOD IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF 2024!
"Individually we are one drop. Together we are an ocean" -
Ryunosuke Satoro
READ OUR STORIES
Recounts of our experiences, lives we've changed,
and the moments and people that have changed US.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
Sometimes, all it takes to see the invisible is opening your heart instead of your eyes.
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This is the story of being lost and found, and how our organization works to help those that no one else can,
FROM HOMELESS TO HOUSING
A story of strength, perseverance, and inspiration; One woman's journey from a
1-person tent to a 2 bedroom home.
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She may have lost her way, but she never lost her hope...
A LITTLE LOVE GOES A LONG WAY
The amazing chronicles of Stormy - the frightened, timid pittie living her whole life outside on a 35lb chain... Until our group of volunteers worked to give her the life she always deserved...
FAITH IN HUMANITY RESTORED
When this brother and sister duo decided to use their Christmas list to provide for those in need instead of themselves, we couldn't help but have our faith in humanity restored...
THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS
The story of how a community came together to support a family in need...
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And how they went from living on a bus - to riding one HOME.