Supporting Our Unsheltered Neighbors This Winter

In August, Mission Ministries Alliance, alongside community partners MATCH, Vaya, CareReach, and WNCCHS, completed our semi-annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count for our region. The results were sobering: since January, our community has seen nearly a 403% increase in the number of unsheltered individuals, rising to 106 people living without shelter.

These individuals are not statistics—they are our neighbors. Some lost their homes due to the devastating impact of Tropical Storm Helene. Others are struggling with broken relationships, substance use, mental health challenges, or job loss. The truth is, most people are only one paycheck away from being in the same position.

This winter, as temperatures drop, Mission Ministries Alliance is opening an Overnight Shelter to provide warmth, safety, and dignity to those who have nowhere else to go. When temperatures fall below 40 degrees, the shelter will remain open to protect lives.

We need community members to join this effort. Volunteers will serve in two-hour intervals between 3:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m., with two volunteers needed each hour. Training will be provided, and whether you can commit once a week or several days a week, your support is invaluable.

For those unable to volunteer, we also welcome donations of needed supplies for our Code Purple nights:

 Pop-top canned food, soups, & snacks

 Coffee & paper products (cups, plates, silverware)

 Hot Hands warmers

 Gloves, socks, and toboggans

 Twin sheets, pillows, twin blankets, laundry detergent

 55-gallon trash bags, cleaning products

 Linen washing assistance (to rotate out dirty bed clothes)

Together, we can make sure no one is left out in the cold this winter.

If you would like to volunteer or donate, please contact:

Heather Moran, HPWNC Program Director

828-460-8438, heather.moran@m3life.org