Our Story, His Glory
That night, we welcomed even more people into shelter, as our team had been doing outreach along rivers and creeks, encouraging those who were unhoused to seek safety. Our hearts were with every individual we encountered, and we felt blessed to offer them refuge from the storm.
We had planned an open house for this location on September 30, a project we had worked on tirelessly for over a year to remodel and prepare for the community. When I first arrived and saw the damage, I wept, wondering how we could start over after investing so much into this space. Yet, this is our story—a story of resilience, and it’s okay to feel the weight of that loss.
We were blessed in so many ways, with an amazing board of directors, supportive family, and steadfast staff who rallied together to relocate 24 people to the Emergency Operations Center shelters, coordinated by McDowell EMS and the Red Cross. These individuals are members of McDowell County, and they deserve to be recognized and supported as part of the community, not hidden away or made invisible. Seeing our homeless neighbors in our communities and neighborhoods can be challenging, but they are here, and it takes a committed partnership across county and city officials to find long-term housing solutions.
Throughout the storm and its aftermath, our shelter staff and leadership worked tirelessly to support both our current clients and those displaced. They not only assisted those evacuated from our overnight shelter but also identified individuals at risk of becoming homeless, offering shelter, mental health support, and essential resources, particularly to those in recovery. Our resilient staff adapted at every turn, ensuring that everyone felt seen and valued.
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we initially saw a 25% increase in first-time homelessness. With the devastation of Hurricane Helene, we anticipate an additional rise as more individuals face housing instability as a direct result of this natural disaster.
By eliminating barriers to shelter access, we were able to take in a woman with a chicken, along with cats, dogs, families, and both men and women who had lost everything in the storm. One of our greatest strengths is finding creative solutions and adapting to meet the needs of the population we serve.
Our building is now undergoing repairs, and we are incredibly fortunate to have the support of a compassionate insurance adjuster who understands and champions our work. Our contractors at Carolina Interior, who recently remodeled the building, are back on-site making the necessary repairs, and we are hopeful to reopen our day center in December.
We want to extend a special thank you to East Marion Community Church for providing the financial support to cover our insurance deductible—this generous contribution has made it possible for us to move forward with these much-needed repairs. However, a bank of leaning trees still poses a hazard. Since this issue isn’t covered by insurance, we are relying on faith and community support to help us address it.
If you see MMA staff out in the community, please give them a hug and thank them for the work they do, which so often goes unseen. Their dedication and resilience are what keep us moving forward.
Executive Director, Crystal Sweatt
