BMP United

The Coat & Blanket Drive Was a Huge Success 

Huge thanks to all who contributed – we are pleased to announce the success of our recent coat and blanket drive. The volume of donations were able to fulfill the current needs of both Mountain Projects and HERE, and allowed us to direct surplus items to another deserving local organization.

We are taking a break from collecting more items for now.  Local organizations are busy getting everything distributed.  There are still needs out there, but they’re asking for financial donations instead.  This way, they can get exactly what’s needed, like specific sizes or supplies.

BMP has a reputation for its boundless generosity, and we’ll be poised to act whenever fresh needs emerge. Remember, our commitment is ongoing; let's save our energy for future calls to action. 

In the meantime, financial donations are the most effective way to contribute. Here’s a list of suggested organizations.

• Local efforts: Mountain Projects is our local community action agency and is actively working with other local nonprofits providing disaster relief support in our community.
• Western NC: NCCF has links to the larger organizations that are actively providing support to the broader western NC area most impacted by the flooding.
• BMP Gift Fund: we will continue to support the local efforts now and over the long recovery road ahead. Contact Linda Outlaw.

Volunteer

The initial volunteer opportunities are starting to wrap up as organizations have taken care of the primary needs in our region. However, that doesn't mean we're done yet. The groups we've been working with for a while are moving on to a new phase in their recovery efforts.

We're keeping in touch with local leaders and are broadening our reach in the WNC area. When we learn about new opportunities, we'll share them here and spread the word through our community.

If you come across an exciting opportunity, you can post the details on this hub or create a new event.  Just let us know if you need a quick tutorial on how to post.

More Information

These regional resources are good source of credible information:

• Blue Ridge Public Radio
• NC Emergency Management
• Jackson County Emergency Management
• Relief | The Orchard Church (theorchardnc.com)

Who is BMP United?

The neighbors and organizations - Trust, CA, Club, BMP Fund for Jackson County, and Development Team - at Balsam Mountain Preserve are working together to coordinate a response to the Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.  Please use this as a hub to share information, highlight needs, organize work outings, coordinate supply drives.

Support for BMP Employees

Many of you have shown concern for the welfare of our excellent staff. Our Club, CA and Trust Leaders are glad to report staff have suffered no severe losses. Despite this positive news, we understand that ongoing challenges from like hurricane will arise. We believe it is best to offer some immediate relief now and in the future as needed.

Cash for Gas for Staff - THANK YOU, this has been fully funded. The gasoline shortage is hitting the region hard, especially our employees who travel long distances. During the coming week, we’re rallying together to gather cash contributions, aiming to offer each employee $100 towards their commute.  With 100 employees across the 3 organizations, that’s a total of $10,000.   As of Oct 5, 2024 our Goal has been met.

Future Staff Needs - We are establishing an informal clearinghouse to address any future needs of our employees. Leaders from each department should contact Linda Outlaw at the BMP Fund, who will then reach out to a benefactor. If you are interested in providing assistance, please reach out to her directly.