Since October 2024, we’ve shared the urgent need to keep families across Western North Carolina warm through the winter. When we officially launched as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on October 3, the Western Carolina Emergency Network (WCEN) quickly evolved to meet the region’s changing needs. What began as grassroots relief efforts became a coordinated emergency response starting with supply runs, then establishing 12 fuel hubs across the region, and ultimately delivering heating fuel directly to families in crisis.
Throughout our updates and media interviews, we emphasized that even with overwhelming community support, the need was growing faster than we could raise funds. Thanks to the generosity of over 950 individual and corporate donors, we raised over $365,000. The vast majority of those funds have already been deployed to help families stay warm. While donations have slowed, a few are still coming in, and we remain committed to using every dollar to make the greatest possible impact.
In January alone, WCEN provided $28,000 in funding for heating fuel and firewood to families across the region. Though we’ve been quieter on social media, our work hasn’t stopped. We continue to identify and support families still in need.
We are deeply grateful to every donor, volunteer, and partner who has made this work possible. Your support helped bring not only warmth to homes, but also hope to hearts, during one of the hardest winters many in WNC have ever faced.
The infrastructure we’ve built remains in place and ready. If additional funding becomes available, we’ll be prepared to scale our efforts again and continue delivering aid where it’s needed most.
Thank you for being part of this community.
With gratitude,
The Western Carolina Emergency Network Team