Hot meals available for Hurricane Helene survivors: County-by-county distribution guide (2024)

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, several counties across Western North Carolina are mobilizing to provide food assistance to residents affected by the storm. Many local organizations and emergency services are working tirelessly to ensure that individuals and families have access to essential food supplies during this challenging time.

Here’s a list of organizations by county providing hot meals, water, and additional resources for those in need.

Avery

Spear Country Store at 5810 South U.S. 19E, Elk Park Christian Church, 220 Old Mill Road, and Temple Baptist Church, 117 Prison Camp Road, are offering free hot meals each day for those who need it and for emergency workers.

Buncombe

To support the thousands affected by Hurricane Helene,Denny’s Mobile Relief Diner, a53-foot mobile kitchen deployed to feed communities in need, will be in Asheville beginningOct. 4 through Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily at the Lowe’s parking lot, 95 Smokey Park Highway.
As part of the “Healing After Helene” effort, Cotton Global Disaster Solutions will distribute 3,000 cases of water and 1,000 boxed lunches at Asheville High School on Oct. 4, starting at 10 a.m. until supplies last.
Starting Oct. 2, ready-to-eat meals and bottled water will be available at two distribution sites: Asheville Middle School, 211 S. French Broad Ave., and Lindwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road. Each adult can receive two MRE packages, while children are allowed one per day. Families can also take home one case of bottled water each day. Distribution will continue until 7 p.m. or until supplies run out.
On Oct. 4 from noon-5 p.m., and Oct. 5 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tyson Foods will deploy its Meals that Matter Disaster Relief Team to Walmart Supercenter at 25 Northridge Commons Parkway, Weaverville. The team will provide hot meals, ice, water and protein donations to support those affected by Hurricane Helene and the severe damage caused by the storm in Western North Carolina. Volunteers will be on-site to assist the community in need.

More:How to help: Learn about ways to support Hurricane Helene victims, how to donate

Haywood

Cresview Baptist Church, 3258 Pisgah Drive, is operating a food truck that serves meals twice a day from noon to 5 p.m. to anyone in need, including first responders
Pigeon Community Center, 450 Pigeon St., will serve food daily at 2 p.m. The center also offers water, power, charging stations, and other essential supplies.
Springdale Golf and Country Club, 200 Golfwatch Road, Cruso, will provide free lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cruso Community Center, 13186 Cruso Road, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering MREs (meals ready to eat), water and various other food items.

Henderson

Starting Thursday, Oct. 3, free hot meals to go will be served twice daily around noon and 5 p.m. at four resource hubs in Henderson County on a first-come, first-served basis. The meal distribution locations are: Etowah Elementary at 320 Etowah School Road; East Henderson High at 150 Eagle Pride Drive; North Henderson High at 35 Fruitland Road; and Mills River Town Hall at 124 Town Center Drive.

Jackson

Mark Watson Park at 86 Mark Watson Park, and Cashiers Baptist Church, 213 U.S. 64, are both distributing meals ready to eat, cleaning supplies, water (bring your own container) and portable water from 2 to 6 p.m. daily. Another location offering meals and water is the Canada Fire Department from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 149 Charlies Creek Road.

Macon

For emergent food needs, meals ready to eat will be available for pickup at Macon County Department of Social Services, 1832 Lakeside Drive, and Macon Senior Services, 108 Wayah St., starting Thursday, Oct 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at either location.

Madison

Food and water supplies are being routed to area volunteer fire departments to move them closer to each community.

All residents can pick up supplies at the following locations:

The Marshall Volunteer Fire Department is operating at A-B Tech's Marshall campus, located at 4646 U.S. 25-70 in Marshall. This location is also accepting donations.
Walnut Volunteer Fire Department, located at 10025 U.S. 25-70 in Marshall.
Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department, located at 7907 Big Pine Road in Marshall.
Laurel Volunteer Fire Department, located at 4949 N.C. 212 Highway in Marshall. This location is also accepting donations.
Ebbs Chapel Community Center, located at 281 Laurel Valley Road in Mars Hill.
Mars Hill Fire Department, located at 56 N. Main St. in Mars Hill.
Country Volunteer Fire Department, located at 486 Church Road in Hot Springs.
Spring Creek Volunteer Fire Department, located at 13131 N.C. 209 Highway in Hot Springs.
Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department, located at 38 S. Andrews Ave. in Hot Springs.

McDowell

The human services division is coordinating the delivery of essential resources, including water tankers, bottled water, MREs, and food items, to affected areas in McDowell County.

Rutherford

In Rutherford County, distribution sites for food and emergency supplies are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School, Florence Baptist Church and the Rutherford County Health Department, according to the county’s emergency management Facebook page.

Transylvania

While many local charities and churches are sharing food, water and other supplies to those in need, the main location for mass dispersal of those items is Anchor Baptist Church at 3232 Hendersonville Highway.

Here's a list of other locations in the county:

The Cedar Mountain Community Center, 10635 Greenville Highway, offers meals from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., noon to 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Balsam Grove Community Center at 9732 Parkway Road provides meals from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m
The Bread of Life at 238 S. Caldwell St. serves meals from noon to 2 p.m.
The Family Place at 970 Old Hendersonville Highway is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Friday, Oct. 4.
Starting Friday, Oct. 4, meals will be served at Rosman High School Old Gym at 749 Pickens Hwy at 5:30 p.m., and again on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 8 a.m. and noon.

For water distribution, individuals should bring their own containers to the following sites: City Sports Complex off Ecusta Road; Cedar Mountain Canteen at 10771 Greenville Highway; Territory Brevard at 43 S. Broad St.; DD Bulwinkles at 60 E. Main St.; and First Baptist Church of Brevard at 94 South Gaston St.

Watauga

The Dan'l Boone Inn located near the heart of Boone has provided relief meals for days, and said free food distribution will continue through Thursday, Oct. 3, from noon to 5 p.m. Normal business operations will resume Friday, but relief meals will still be served as needed.

Yancey

To facilitate the distribution of essential supplies, Points of Distribution have been established at all fire stations across Yancey County. These PODs are providing food, water and tarps to residents as supplies last, with resupply efforts in place daily. Additionally, a shelter has been set up at Blue Ridge Elementary School, staffed by the Red Cross to provide support for those in need.

If you have information about additional locations in these counties or others distributing food or water, please email Levans@gannett.com to have them included in this list. Thank you for your assistance.