Ten months after Hurricane Helene battered mountain communities, a local nonprofit is still on the back roads delivering help where it’s needed most. Drawn to Help, founded in 2018 by Executive Director Steve Barr, has shifted from bringing cartoons to children in hospitals to sustained hurricane relief—an evolution the group formalized by amending its bylaws shortly after the storm.
Barr and volunteers have been crisscrossing small towns like Spruce Pine to find families who are still struggling. Their work remains straightforward and urgent: feed people, clothe them, and provide essentials like propane. Barr says the need hasn’t eased. With businesses gone and many homes destroyed, some residents are still living in shacks and even tents.
The nonprofit’s relief network now includes locals like Spruce Pine native Tammy Hass, who met Barr during a Christmas toy giveaway and felt compelled to join in. She now helps distribute supplies to families who’ve come to rely on the group’s regular visits. “When they tell you, ‘Tammy, thank you so much. If it wasn’t for you coming every week, we would probably starve to death,’” she said, “it changes your life.”
For Barr, stepping in is second nature. His father was a first responder, and he passed down a simple rule: when you see a need, you help. That spirit fuels the organization’s long-haul approach. “Their stories are incredible and heartbreaking,” Barr said, “and we hope that we can just continue doing this for the years we know it’s going to take.”
Why this matters
– Mountain communities often face longer recoveries after major storms because of geography, limited access, and fewer nearby services. Smaller nonprofits can close the “last-mile” gap by finding people in remote places and getting them what they need quickly.
– The continued demand months later is a reminder that disaster relief doesn’t end when headlines fade; rebuilding livelihoods and housing is a long process, especially where jobs and infrastructure were lost.
How to help
– Drawn to Help relies on donations to keep food, clothing, propane, and other essentials flowing to families. Those interested in supporting or volunteering can visit the nonprofit’s Facebook page to see current needs and ways to contribute.
– Consider flexible support such as gift cards, which can help families cover immediate essentials that are hard to stock or deliver.
A hopeful note
Even in a long recovery, neighbors are stepping up for neighbors. The partnership between residents like Tammy Hass and Drawn to Help shows how community ties can carry people through the toughest months—and why steady, local support makes a lasting difference.
Summary: Drawn to Help, originally focused on uplifting children in hospitals, formally expanded its mission after Hurricane Helene and continues to deliver food, clothing, propane, and other supplies to hard-hit mountain communities like Spruce Pine. With many residents still displaced and local jobs gone, demand remains high. Volunteers such as local resident Tammy Hass have joined the effort, and the nonprofit is seeking donations and community support through its Facebook page.