The recent devastation in the mountains of North Carolina (NC) and East Tennessee from Hurricane Helene has affected us all deeply. This year during Giving Tuesday we would like to ask you to help her rebuild! 

Called to Peace Ministries is based in North Carolina and the state is a special part of our ministry. Things will never be the same as they were before Hurricane Helene. Precious people and places are lost forever, and it’s profoundly grievous.

Join us this Giving Tuesday to raise $10,000 to provide financial assistance and support to help 15 women rebuild from Western NC who have been impacted by both domestic abuse and Hurricane Helene! 

We invite you to meet and hear the inspiring stories of a few remarkable women we’ve served, who will benefit from the financial assistance provided by our Giving Tuesday campaign. Your support makes a real difference!

Meet “Black Mountain, NC CTPM Survivor”:

The storm disrupted all communication, leaving us cut off from the outside world for several days. While many of my old oak trees came down, our home was miraculously spared, though our neighbor was not so fortunate. I’m thankful that we only experienced minor damage. During this time, I felt a sense of relief having my children safe with me. However, after several days without power, limited food, and barely any safe drinking water, I made the tough decision to drive us out with very little gas. I trusted that we would find a way.

As we traveled, we encountered town after town without power, cell service, or gas, but we persevered. When we finally reached a location with cell service, four different people reached out, offering to help us with gas if we needed it. Now, a month later, we still lack access to clean tap water, but we’ve managed to secure non-potable water, which has been a tremendous help with the demands of caring for children, especially when it comes to flushing toilets. We are grateful to be among the fortunate ones who have had our power and internet restored, even as our area still resembles a warzone.

Despite knowing our situation is better than many others, my children and I still face significant challenges. In the aftermath of the storm, I found myself cleaning up debris and carrying water daily just to meet our basic needs. Traveling 1-2 hours round trip to friends’ homes for showers and laundry has become a regular necessity, all while I balance a full-time job and caring for my children (as work resumed much sooner than schools). The exhaustion is just beginning to set in, and the complications of post-separation abuse add further difficulty to our situation. 

When we were without basic services at home, a kind friend arranged safe, temporary housing for us in another city and secured permission for my children to attend school there. However, my ex refused this opportunity despite the stability it could have provided. This highlights the ongoing challenges of post-separation abuse, where the need for control often overshadows the children’s well-being, even in times of crisis.

Additionally, we are in the midst of a custody trial that has been delayed for months due to the storm, leaving us in a state of limbo under a temporary order that doesn’t meet many of our needs. 

Navigating feelings of hope and sorrow after a disaster can be complex, but I choose to focus on the moments of joy and resilience found in my children, the kindness of those around us, and the strength of our community during this time. While the ongoing custody dispute and the storm’s aftermath weigh heavily on my mind, I remain committed to moving forward, advocating for my children’s safety and well-being. I am endlessly grateful for the support that continues to empower us on this journey.

 

Meet “Boone, NC CTPM Survivor”:

The day of the hurricane was quite complicated for me. Early Thursday morning, I had an ovarian cyst burst, which forced me to call my ex to pick up my son and arrange for an ambulance since I had no one else to drive me. I was released from the hospital at 5 a.m., and thankfully, a friend was able to take me home. I spent the next 48 hours in a lot of pain, alone, trying to mop up water that was leaking in through my door as the waters rose. It was a scary time, and I felt incredibly isolated.

Only one tree fell in my driveway, but the culvert in my creek is plugged and corroding the bank. Despite this, I don’t feel I can complain, as I fared relatively well in the storm compared to so many others. However, as a single mom, I lack the resources to get help, and I don’t feel I can spare the money right now. So, it is what it is.

I have an Airbnb in my basement, which makes up almost half of my income and helps me keep my house. Unfortunately, I lost a month’s worth of income due to the storm. Some guests have rebooked as the situation in the area has improved, but I still feel anxious because the financial strain exceeds what I can manage. Nevertheless, I trust that I am in a better position than many in my community.

As a survivor of abuse, I find that traumatic events such as Hurricane Helene  feel even larger to my already frazzled and easily activated nervous system. Living in a constant state of fight or flight feels familiar, but leaves me feeling trapped. The overwhelming sense of being alone and the fear of reaching out for help creates anxiety. There’s uncertainty about whether compassion awaits my son and me or if we will be neglected, disbelieved, or dismissed. Personally, trauma feels like an inconvenience that no one wants to help me with; it resides in my body and thoughts, making it shameful and frightening to ask for assistance.

The most pervasive feeling I have as a survivor is the fear of being alone and the pressure to make everything work for my son and me, especially when I don’t know who can help when life becomes too difficult to manage — which is exactly what happened during the hurricane.

Thank you for these questions and for the care provided by Called to Peace Ministries. I felt very seen by the phone call I received from you! It’s always comforting to be acknowledged and offered help.

 

Meet “Deep Gap, NC CTPM Survivor”:

I was without power for 12 hours and had no internet for three days, but I wasn’t as affected as most. 

Even though our house wasn’t severely damaged by Hurricane Helene, it is still in need of repairs that I cannot afford due to the financial abuse I have experienced.

I have had a hard time coping with the recent events in our community. I am still healing from past abuse and a brutal divorce. Some of my single mom friends lost their jobs and could not work for a while, yet they still had to go to court. It has been very tough to deal with the emotional effects of everything happening in our community on top of the pain from the abuse and divorce.

 

Meet “Serena” – “Boone, NC CTPM Survivor” 

The hurricane had a significant impact on my work. I clean vacation rentals, and most of the houses I maintain lost power for 7 to 22 days. When power was finally restored, many properties were damaged, and reservations were canceled as a result. I lost a month’s worth of income, and as a single-income household, this was particularly challenging for me. Additionally, my six children were out of school for an entire month, which made it difficult to find extra work since I didn’t have childcare.