Tiny Homes Bring Hope to Hurricane-Affected Families in Carolina

Quick Smiles:

• 100 tiny homes provided to families in North Carolina after hurricane flooding.
• Community volunteers rally together to construct and deliver these homes.
• Local partnerships enhance the impact of this generous initiative.

As the holiday season approached, many families in Western North Carolina found themselves without stable housing due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

In a remarkable display of community spirit and generosity, a major home improvement company, along with hundreds of dedicated volunteers, stepped up to offer a temporary solution by donating 100 tiny homes to these families.

Each tiny home is thoughtfully equipped with essential amenities, including heating, a kitchen, a bathroom, and two full-size beds, allowing families to remain in their beloved neighborhoods while their permanent homes are being rebuilt.

The company also ensured that each home was adorned with fresh seasonal greenery, furnishings, and décor to create a welcoming atmosphere.

Kathy Graham, a long-time resident near Asheville, expressed her overwhelming gratitude upon receiving her new home, stating:

“Thank God I got my new home—my ‘tiny home’. It’s awesome. It’s gorgeous. I can’t believe it. I can’t even say how much I appreciate it. The Lord has answered my prayers, honestly. Answered my prayers.”

This initiative was made possible through a collaborative effort led by a Senior Director of Community Relations and Danny Kelly, co-owner of Kelly McArdle Construction.

The director proposed the ambitious idea of building 100 tiny homes, and Kelly, eager to make a significant impact, embraced the challenge.

“She told me she wanted to build a hundred tiny homes and I thought, oh my God, that’s perfect. I’ve been looking for my opportunity to do something big, but I don’t have the resources to do it and she said they had all these volunteers lined up, and all the supplies lined up, they just didn’t know how to do it.”

The project quickly gained momentum, with a prototype built in Kelly’s backyard and a subsequent move to a Charlotte warehouse where 16 more homes were constructed with the help of 400 volunteers.

In addition to these efforts, the company purchased another 50 homes from Incredible Tiny Homes, a company based in Newport, Tennessee.

Amanda Hayes, co-owner of Incredible Tiny Homes, expressed her joy in being part of this meaningful project:

“It just means everything. To provide housing for these people who have lost everything, this is the most special thing that we’ve ever done.”

The Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte played a pivotal role in organizing the volunteer workforce, with more than 400 individuals from various trades coming together to assemble the homes in just a week.

Jennifer Schuster, the Executive Officer of the association, highlighted the diverse range of volunteers involved in the project:

“We’ve had volunteers—everything from framing crew, roofing crew, plumbers, electricians, to the actual builders in the markets—sending their project managers to our associates, which are the suppliers, sending their people to be a part of this.”

This extraordinary effort is part of a $12 million commitment to support recovery efforts, ensuring that at least 100 tiny homes reach flood victims in the mountains as swiftly as possible.

The initiative has garnered additional support from organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, NASCAR haulers, BeLoved Asheville, the Appalachia Service Project, and SunCap Property Group.

Together, they have made a significant difference in the lives of those affected by the hurricane, proving that when communities come together, incredible things can happen.

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