How One Buncombe County Child Care Program Is Helping Families Affected by Hurricane Helene

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Last month, Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on western North Carolina and left a heavy mark on an already fragile child care network, with many programs still unable to operate. One of the hardest hit areas was Buncombe County. Corrie Price, Director and Founder of Asheville's Evolve Early Learning Center (and BBF participant), shares how she and her team came together to support those affected by the storm and provide a sense of normalcy for families dealing with its aftermath.

What is the status of Evolve? Have you been able to operate?

Evolve Early Learning is located in West Asheville and we were lucky to not experience flooding. We had trees and power lines down and needed to close to regroup for a few days. We reopened as a co-op respite care site quickly and provided part-time care for families to regroup. We were approved to reopen on October 21.

How is Evolve helping local families and caregivers?

Evolve believes that all children in our community are our children. We knew that families were struggling to regulate their nervous system and land after the disaster. We have hosted several family-centered events that allowed parents to work on disaster assistance applications, talk to counselors, and just “be” after the storm. We served coffee, tea, pancakes and bacon at these events.

We began to get calls from all over the country with people who wanted to help. In a matter of days we had opened up our warehouse as a mutual aid site. We partnered with local food trucks and aid organizations to get supplies where they were needed most. Generous donations of over 800 pounds of meat, fruit, and other critical supplies fueled our community and filled our time for most of the month. A “Love Fund” was started for our teachers and apprentices who were impacted by Helene so they could get what they needed. 

We opened our doors to the public for a seasonal gathering we called "The Great Pumpkin Hunt"! We cooked burgers, accepted donations, played, and had a costume corner for families. It was a huge success! It may not seem like a big thing but normalcy for families is critical right now. 

How can interested caregivers and families in the area learn more?

The best way to follow us and learn about our public events or preschool is on Facebook and Instagram @evolveearlylearning, or by visiting our website: www.evolveearlylearning.com. 

What else would you like readers to know?

Every person, no matter how small, has a role in recovery. It is so important that the mental and social health of families, teachers, and children is considered and supported right now. I encourage everyone to take care of themselves and take breaks for play, joy, and peace. This is a relay race not a sprint. 

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Our thoughts remain with those impacted by Hurricane Helene. For anyone needing assistance, NCDHHS has a page of Hurricane Helene Recovery Resources. A comprehensive list of Helene resources can also be found at ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene.