Lessons from the Mountain.

I know the needs feel overwhelming to all of us watching from afar, but, I also know that every one of us can make a difference.

If I were asked to choose one place that evokes feelings of nostalgia - in particular warmth and safety - I would choose Beech Mountain, North Carolina. My childhood memories are inextricably tied to this quaint ski town tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.

I grew up in Central Florida and, twice every year, my family of six would pile into our station wagon and drive the twelve hours to a magical cabin in the mountains my grandparents owned for over twenty years.

There, my siblings and I would set out to explore imaginative lands in the forest for hours each day. We’d play board games in the evenings and read books before bed. We’d hike the endless trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway and eat picnic lunches perched on a boulder while we dipped our feet in picturesque streams. For one week each winter, we escaped Florida’s humidity and managed to squeeze an entire winter’s worth of rosy cheeks and freezing toes and wet gloves into seven joy-filled days.

Everything I’ve learned about adventure and the importance of time away together, I learned there on that mountain. I learned that memories can be cemented to a place and you can go back twenty years later and feel like you never left. I learned that late nights playing board games around a table can forge connections and facilitate soul rest and deep laughter. I learned that scary things happen - like the time my younger sister fell off the ski lift - and you have a choice afterward: you can either be paralyzed by fear or you can force you to do the brave thing scared and get back on the lift despite your shaky knees. I learned that childhood should be full of magic and creativity and unstructured time outdoors. I learned that I want to be the kind of parent who, after a long week of work, pushes through my exhaustion to pack the car and remember the snacks and sing the roadtrip songs, just to ensure my children experience the absolute magnificence of this great, big, beautiful world.

This past week, as we all have watched the devastation in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s fury in that exceedingly beautiful part of our country, I’ve felt heartbroken, helpless and grief-stricken. Yet, the stories of Hope remain. The stories of neighbors helping neighbors and civilians donating their time and resources to serve on rescue missions in the remote mountain towns inaccessible by road. The people there on the ground doing the work of search and rescue and distributing immediate supplies like medicine, food and water are saving lives.

The clean up and rebuilding period will be long and, right now, the immediate needs need to continue to be met. I shared some of my trusted resources doing work on the ground on Instagram this past week and I am including them here, collected in one place, for a reference point. Obviously, this list is not exhaustive but, for everyone looking to donate and feeling unsure of how to help or where to start, I hope this is a helpful starting point.

Samaritan’s Purse - Samaritan's Purse mobilizes staff and equipment and enlists thousands of volunteers to provide emergency aid to victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters in the United States. We often stay behind after our initial response to rebuild or restore houses for needy families.

Convoy of Hope - As a humanitarian, faith-based organization, Convoy of Hope’s goal is to serve people who are impoverished, hungry, and hurting.

Mercy Chefs - Mercy Chefs provides chef-prepared, nutritious meals and clean water for victims, volunteers and first responders in natural disasters and emergencies across the country and around the globe.

Cajun Navy Relief - We are a group of volunteers who work tirelessly without pay to provide immediate rescue and relief during natural disasters. Rescue and relief are our way of sharing the South Louisiana cultural tradition of neighbors helping neighbors with people in need across the United States.

I know the needs feel overwhelming to all of us watching from afar, but, I also know that every one of us can make a difference. One of my favorite of Mother Teresa’s quotes is, “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one”. I love this reminder that helping one person is just as important as helping many, and that every action has an impact. Let’s not think of our gifts or our resources as too small to make a difference. Instead, let’s do what we can with what we have and trust God to multiply our generosity and use it to impact lives.