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POLK COUNTY—In the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s path through Western North Carolina, the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina wasted no time in rushing to help local organizations.

The Foundation developed an Emergency Disaster and Relief Fund to help area groups recover from personal and financial devastation. Polk County Schools benefitted from that Fund, receiving $24,189 to help cover expenses the school system incurred during the two-week response period.

Hurricane Helene forced Polk County Schools and its staff into the center of the county disaster recovery arena. Each school had to pivot from educating children to serving families impacted by the storm. Every school became a community distribution site for food, water, supplies and communication. School administrators, teachers, parents and students all jumped in to help families that had been the hardest hit.

The PEAK After School program provided emergency child care for AdventHealth Polk, formerly St. Luke’s Hospital, in response to personnel challenges caused by the hurricane. The nursing director and her staff provided necessary coverage at the American Red Cross shelter that opened at the high school. The Nutritional Services staff was on duty the next day, providing meals to volunteers and the National Guard at both Polk County High School and Polk Central Elementary, and they continued to provide breakfast and lunch at these locations for several weeks.

“Polk County Schools is grateful for the support of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina,” said George Alley, Grants and Community Partnerships Coordinator for Polk County Schools. “Their response motto of ‘Generosity Multiplied’ personifies the efforts of all the partnering organizations and individuals that selflessly jumped in to help those in need.”