By Philip Phi
Posted Aug 22, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Mountain Community Health Partnership (MCHP) recently hosted a historic visit from Americares, marking the nonprofit’s first-ever airlift in the continental United States. This event brought together Americares supporters and donors to Western North Carolina, allowing them to witness the ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. The airlift provided a unique opportunity to engage directly with organizations serving communities impacted by the storm and to understand the long-term challenges these mountain communities face.
During the visit, Americares supporters toured MCHP’s Celo Health Center, where they heard firsthand accounts of the storm’s impact from MCHP leadership and staff. Despite facing widespread flooding, damaged infrastructure, and transportation disruptions, MCHP continued to deliver essential healthcare services. The resilience of the healthcare workers, who persevered through personal losses, was a testament to their dedication to the community.
Tim Evans, MSW, Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Community Health Partnership, emphasized the ongoing effects of Hurricane Helene in the region. “While the floodwaters have receded, the effects continue to be felt throughout Western North Carolina,” said Evans. “We were honored to welcome Americares and their supporters to our community. Their commitment to understanding the challenges our patients, staff, and neighbors continue to face demonstrates the power of partnership in helping communities recover and rebuild.”
As part of the airlift experience, Americares supporters joined community partners, including Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) and UNETE, in volunteer projects. Together, they packed 300 food boxes that were later distributed to families in need through a community health fair. This act of service aligns with the biblical call to love one’s neighbor, as seen in Matthew 25:35, which speaks to feeding the hungry and caring for those in need.
Christine Squires, President and CEO of Americares, reflected on the visit, highlighting the strength and resilience of Western North Carolina communities. “Health workers and clinic leaders shared what it has taken to keep their doors open and continue caring for patients even as many of their staff were dealing with their own losses,” said Squires. “What stayed with me from this trip was the deep sense of trust, belonging, and connection across the community. We are grateful to the Western North Carolina community for welcoming us and showing what it truly means to care for one another.”
Americares has been supporting Hurricane Helene response and recovery efforts across Western North Carolina since the storm struck in September 2024. The organization’s global mission to help communities prepare for and recover from disasters is evident in their continued support for the region. This partnership exemplifies the biblical principle found in Galatians 6:10, which encourages doing good to all, especially to those of the same community of faith.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
