When Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, Mitchell Rivera’s world turned upside down. Her husband, a construction worker, lost his job after the storm, and overnight the family was left scrambling to cover rent and to care for their two young children.
“No food, no gas, no transportation,” Mitchell recalled. “It was quite overwhelming.”
Cut off by high water and downed trees, the Riveras leaned on the kindness of their landlord, who patiently waited for rent. But as the weeks passed, the bills kept piling up. Relief finally came when Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church stepped in.
In the months after the storm, the church distributed more than $5.5 million in rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to over 2,500 people across Western North Carolina. For Mitchell’s family, that support—combined with food and supplies—made all the difference between falling behind and finding a foothold.
Now, that life-saving work is growing through the Grace in Action Fund, a partnership launched this summer between Grace Covenant and the Land of the Sky Association of REALTORS® (LOTSAR). In just two months, the fund has raised more than $180,000 to carry housing support beyond immediate disaster response and create long-term stability for families across the region.
The demand underscores how critical this work remains. On a single day in September, 100 people came to Grace Covenant seeking help, and nearly $64,000 in housing support was distributed before nightfall. As all the applications are processed and verified, that figure will only increase.
“The need is immense,” said Rachel Brown, President of LOTSAR. “We are proud of the $180,000 raised so far, but it’s clear our work is far from done.”
For families like Mitchell’s, continued support is the bridge between uncertainty and hope—a reminder that recovery doesn’t end when the storm passes.
“Any contribution is a blessing,” Mitchell said. “I wish we could continue to support each other because there are many people who really need it.”
Visit lotsar.org/grace to donate and learn more.
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