My name is Tod McDonald. I am the Pastor of The Vine Christian Fellowship, on the outskirts of Hot Springs, NC. Our backwoods community was not wiped out like downtown Hot Springs, but did experience devastating loss. Patty and I fared well.

Relief efforts are organizing, and our church intends to participate in any way we can. We are not confident that we will see the usual governmental agencies, institutional relief organizations and the well-known ministries arrive to our community (Spring Creek) anytime soon, as they are focusing on the towns with the most severe and widespread damage.

Moreover, we believe Spring Creek will not be a high priority for dedicated attention because we are sparsely populated (~1k+ Full-time residents, spread over ~15 square miles of forest). And because of the steep terrain and radically winding roads, we have had little in the way of economic development (the nearest grocery store is almost an hour away!)

At this time, private helicopters are delivering some supplies, at their own expense and on their own timetable. This, of course, is neither reliable nor sustainable. As the roads are opening up to neighboring towns, we will probably have to truck in our own supplies for a period of time.

That said, our church plans to prioritize its resources to meet the needs of the people in this remote community, before extending our reach. Sending supplies from outside is not the best solution, as the needs are widely variable. Leasing bulldozers and backhoes will be required in some cases, for example. For this reason, financial assistance is preferred.

We would encourage you to prayerfully consider making a tax-deductible donation to our church, specifically for our Spring Creek Relief effort. We cannot accept checks at this time, as postal service to our area has been suspended.

We will keep all donors updated with progress reports, and provide end-of-year donation receipts for your tax records.

God bless you, and thanks in advance for your consideration. I am available to answer any questions you may have at your convenience. And please keep all those affected by Helene in your prayers.

Blessings!

Tod McDonald, Pastor

The Vine Christian Fellowship