Tropical Storm Helene Disaster Relief
Unicoi Christian Church has largely been spared from the damage and suffering wreaked by our region's recent tropical storm disaster. In order to better inform efforts to serve and furnish relief resources, we have summarized the efforts of our congregation and other trusted organizations in one place.
What to Know & How to Help
What’s Going On:
Tropical Storm Helene crashed through the region of Northeast Tennessee and Western North Carolina between Thursday, Sept 26th and Saturday, Sept 28th. Record levels of rainfall rushed down NC mountains into TN rivers, sparking fears of dam collapse as torrential waterways tore through towns and roadways.
On Friday, Sept. 27th, Governor Bill Lee declared a national state of emergency, and disaster relief efforts are in full swing in numerous counties. Unicoi Christian Church is particularly close to the town of Erwin, where a stretch of I-26 was torn apart by the flooded Nolichucky River (pictured left). Infrastructural damage in the region is severe, but our schools, churches, and neighborhoods
are coming together admirably to adapt and recover.
What Are We Doing?
Unicoi Christian Church is partnering with Unicoi County Care & Share to distribute donations. Moving forward, Care & Share's Erwin location at 344 Carolina Ave. will the the primary distribution site.
NEW UPDATE:
This coming week we are transitioning traffic to the Erwin Care & Share location. Our fellowship hall will be open by appointment only as we continue to supply and transition items over the Care & Share Erwin location.
Please visit their website for more details and their hours:
We are no longer taking donations but re-directing donations to the central collection point for the Tri-Cities which is Bristol Motor Speedway. For their hours of operation you can visit:
https://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/events/northeast-tennessee-disaster-relief-center/
We are still accepting financial donations for local disaster relief efforts. (Simply hover over our website's "More" drop-down menu, click "Give," and specify that your gift is for "Disaster Relief.") Material donations that we have received are being distributed to victims and crisis workers in Erwin and North Carolina on an ongoing basis.