Thank you to these special people!

Thank you Hatch for Hunger for being such a giant part of bringing help and hope to Western North Carolina. I wanted to share the story that begins with Hatch for Hunger, but first allow me to introduce and explain several important points. 

Since Hurricane Helene what has evolved are encampments in the hard hit areas, where people stay in groups and meals are provided on a mass scale to feed these displaced people. In addition there are restaurants in the areas that suffered a lot of destruction that have locked up their alcohol and are just preparing meals on a mass scale for displaced families and individuals. Some of these kitchens still do not have power but are operating off barbecue grills, propane or generators. I will name the largest of these that I have mentioned because I believe credit should be given where credit is due. The Baptist church and ElCentro Latino church and Bethel church all in Spruce Pine, NC; Yancy fire department and the Pensacola fire department and the Miller encampment in Pensacola, NC; The Silverado and the Railyard in Black mountain, NC; the Blunt Pretzel in Swanannoa, NC; Ridgeline in Lake Lure,  Big Lyn Lodge in Little Switzerland, NC, Baptist church and camp Grier in Old Fort, NC; Gunns encampment. In Ellensboro, NC;  His Glory in. Lenoir, NC; and finally the Civic Center, the Sage & Spice, Sunny Pointe and Food Connection in Asheville, NC. I pray have  not missed any.

We, America Cares contacted Hatch for Hunger because all these locations were struggling to provide meals with meager supplies. We believe communication is key in the battle against hunger everyday, but especially in a disaster situation when people are scared and stressed after suffering so much loss. At each of the above locations we have established contact people to check with constantly to supply them their needs.

On October 24th at 12:30 in the afternoon these folks that were pleading for eggs to feed their people a breakfast that consisted of more then just oatmeal and cold cereal their prayers were answered. A truck from Hatch for Hunger delivered 8,640 dozen eggs.  

I must rewind a bit to again give credit where it is due. We had no cold storage, we contacted Hatch for Hunger in faith believing we would get cold storage for the eggs. We were told they were coming, so we got on the phone next to try to get a refrigerator truck donated to hold these eggs or a cold storage to hold them. We found out that there was only one cold storage still operating and it was at capacity taking on the overflow of the other cold storages in towns that were damaged in the flood.

It was looking bleak.

We called some of the other national organizations and told them we needed refrigeration so we could bring in eggs, the response we got back was, "We do not have refrigeration so they have to take what we can give them.” That did not sit right with us, we knew if we let America know the need that America does care and more than that, God cares.

We didn't give up, we reached out to Justus Apple Farm and told them about the eggs and those asking for them. They donated 4 pallets spaces to keep the eggs refrigerated for 1 week so we could get the eggs distributed.

But we still had 4 more pallets of eggs so we called another apple farm, Mountain Fresh Orchard and told them our situation and they said we could keep the other 4 pallets in their cold storage for one week.

The Lord had provided the eggs and the refrigeration!

On October 24th when the eggs arrived we  called the Railyard in Black Mountain, NC and told them, "We had gotten the word out to our partners and Hatch for Hunger sent eggs."  They immediately sent a pick up truck to come pick up 225 dozen eggs for their encampment where they are making 2000 meals a day and they were so happy and excited and repeatedly said thank you and gave hugs.

We started calling every place and the response was the same, happy, excited, Praises to God and a big thank you to Hatch for Hunger and America Cares for making their need known so people could fill their request.

They wanted to know how did we do it? they couldn't get anyone to give eggs, but when Americans know the need they will fill it. That is who we are! 

We now had one week. We started delivering. Silverado in Black Mountain, where they are feeding 2000 meals a day asked for 300 dozen eggs for their encampment.

The churches in Spruce Pine each took 300 dozen for the meals they are providing, Neighbors feeding Neighbors took 1500 dozen to give out to the families and to use to cook in the meals they were providing. They filled every refrigerated appliance they had.

The Yancy fire department is providing over 2000 meals and they asked for 480 dozen. The Blunt Pretzel who is working with World Kitchen to supply meals was so thankful for the eggs; they are putting out over 3000 meals a day and they were shocked we got them the eggs they asked for. They wanted 480 dozen, but when the families living in tents saw the eggs they wanted some.  So we had to keep bringing more every 2 days. You see they had little propane cookstoves, and they can make their own eggs now, that was a big deal to them. It seems small to us, but when you have nothing little things are big. One old woman who was displaced but staying in a hotel came and said, "I was just thinking if I only had some eggs."  One of the volunteers that were delivering the eggs said he had stopped at the gas station and he started taking to a woman who was staying in one of the encampments and she was singing the praises of the people that sent eggs, he was so proud to say, “That was me with America Cares, we brought them; and they came from Hatch for Hunger." So many stories just like this. The deliveries went on and on 10 cases here, 5 cases there. We had to go back and restock several places because they have limited refrigeration and can only handle so many at a time. Our volunteers personally delivered eggs to each location. As I submit this our 1 week at the cold storage was over yesterday, and we have 26 cases left that will be delivered tomorrow. but the apple farm was so thankful to be able to help and so impressed with how we were delivering to each place that he said he would extend his cold storage for 2 more weeks. In the meantime we are getting the use of a refrigerator unit donated to be able to hold our perishable items.

Right now a tomato is gold here in North Carolina, many people asked can you get bacon to go along with the eggs. We are letting America know the need and we let every location know who filled their request. We are  open 7 days a week taking requests and delivering aid and filling requests to those that have vehicles to be able to come. As long as there is a need we are open. 

You have truly blessed Western North Carolina. Thank you and we hope to see more eggs in the near future as we are also trying to get them the meat products, and butter and cheese and produce they are asking for.

Jennifer Jones

Help from Christ/ America Cares

(929) 317-6578

jennifer@helpfromchristministries.org