Help Cane River Valley Recover from Hurricane Helene

Hi everyone.

Those of you who know me know how much the Cane River Valley means to me. I grew up spending summers there, I got married there, my girls love going there, and my parents are now mostly retired there. It sits in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is one of the most beautiful corners of Western North Carolina. This is a community where people have known each other for generations, and it exudes an authentic sense of place that is difficult to find these days. Like so many other places in North Carolina, though, it suffered tremendous damage from Hurricane Helene. In fact, it’s becoming clear that the destruction in the Cane River Valley is some of the worst in the state.

Friends’ homes were washed away. Local businesses were destroyed. And there’s still neither power nor reliable communication. And since the roads and bridges that connect the valley to Burnsville, the closest town, were completely destroyed by the flood, there is no access to the outside world aside from hiking. And we’ve been told that this area is at the bottom of the State's priority list to receive help since it’s such a rural and dispersed region.

These folks need help. And they need it sooner rather than later, which is why my family and I are creating a Gofundme page to help this wonderful community stabilize and rebuild. It is our intention to allocate whatever money we can raise to local organizations focused specifically on the Cane River Valley and the town of Burnsville so that the help finds its way to the community as quickly and as efficiently as possible. This will likely include community foundations, religious organizations, child care services, local businesses, farmers, housing rehabilitation efforts and many others– wherever we find small voices and big needs.

We know this community well and would be so grateful if you would help us help them.

Many thanks,

Virginia (Jenny) Wood

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-wood-866155182

A word on the mechanics and distribution of funds:

I will be the steward of these funds. The dollars we raise will be deposited into a segregated bank account in my name. We will then distribute these funds via check and wire transfer, or by sourcing and distributing goods and services to individuals and institutions across the Cane River Valley. As with any crisis, the situation is fluid and the needs are evolving. In the early days, we sent several truckloads of supplies to the Cane River Valley including generators, water, clothing, diapers, camping showers, cleaning supplies, and medications. As the immediate needs of the crisis are being met, we have shifted our efforts to secure a handful of Starlink installations to help the community get back online and reconnect with the outside world. We are also working with the Pensacola Fire Department, who is spearheading the crisis response in Pensacola, to guide us to the families that have suffered the greatest loss. Over 600 families in Yancey County lost their homes in Hurricane Helene and we are aware of at least 25 in the Cane River Valley, some of whom lost everything they owned. Aid to these folks could include cash cards, services to clean up their yard or interiors, or potentially campers for those in need of temporary housing. We are evaluating the cost/benefit of all options. Finally we would like to help the local institutions that are vital to the spirit of this community. The Laurel Branch Baptist Church suffered catastrophic structural damage one week before they were to celebrate their 130 year anniversary. We intend to make a contribution to the church to help them rebuild and to other institutions we encounter with similar challenges. In coming weeks, we will do our best to identify the greatest and most immediate needs of this community and allocate these funds in that direction. In the meantime, please know that the spirits of this community are high and they are filled with gratitude toward this campaign.

Sincerely,

Jenny

Jenny Wood Bio:

Virginia (Jenny) Edwards Wood grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina but spent many summers in the Cane River Valley where her family has had a home for over 40 years. Jenny moved to New York City in 1995 to pursue a career in finance and still lives there today with her husband and three daughters. Her parents, Charles and Mary Edwards, own a farm in the Cane River Valley and have been active members of the community since 1984. They contributed their farmland to a conservation easement in 2006. Her father Dr. Charles Edwards was a thoracic surgeon for over 35 years in Charlotte before retiring to establish, with Mary, Memory and Movement Charlotte in 2013 a non-profit medical practice that redefines care for people living with Alzheimer’s. He has written several books.

An Important Disclaimer

This goes without saying, but nonetheless important to state explicitly, none of the funds raised would go to our family farm and I will not benefit financially in any way from the management of this fundraise.