Women of Waynesville Helps Families Recover Through Hurricane Helene Relief Grant
Women of Waynesville (WOW) is proud to share the impact of a $25,000 grant awarded through the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s Emergency & Disaster Response Fund. The grant expanded WOW’s Stealth Mission Program, allowing the organization to provide timely financial assistance to women and children in Haywood County whose lives were disrupted by Hurricane Helene.
Because WOW is a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit with minimal overhead, nearly every dollar of the grant went directly toward helping local families meet essential needs. Through an application and referral process, assistance was provided for housing, utilities, transportation, and other critical expenses while connecting recipients with additional community resources.
The results of the grant include:
29 families received assistance to maintain stable housing, employment, and meet basic needs.
18 families avoided eviction through rent assistance.
2 women secured safe housing by receiving help with security deposits.
14 families received assistance with utilities, including electricity, water, propane, and other essential household expenses.
Grant funds also helped families with necessities such as diapers, a refrigerator, gas cards to get to work, vehicle tires, and even repairs to a camper serving as a family’s home. Beyond financial assistance, WOW connected recipients with additional services including mental health resources, case management, Mountain Projects, NCDHHS, and other community partners to support their long-term recovery.
This grant demonstrates what can happen when community organizations work together to fill gaps in services and respond quickly to urgent needs. Women of Waynesville is grateful to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for investing in our community and helping local families continue moving forward after Hurricane Helene.