Burke County’s Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association (EMGVA) made donations in October to support the relief efforts in hurricane damaged Western North Carolina. The Association used funds it has received from its successful community plant sales held each year in April.

The Association chose to assist the following three organizations:
The Community Foundation of Burke County will provide grants up to $10,000 to non –profits from its Burke County Relief Fund. The non-profits, selected through an application process, must explain what they will be doing to help with the relief effort to be considered for a grant. EMGVA donated $1,500. to the Foundation’s Relief fund.

Burke County United Way will use its relief funds to help families with recovery through emergency as well as long term childcare, disaster unemployment assistance, and supplies. In addition they are a resource for funds after insurance and FEMA have established their level of help in a family’s recovery. EMGVA donated $1,500. to assist Burke County families.

MANNA Food Bank (Mountain Area Nutritional Needs Alliance) located in Asheville is a non-profit serving 16 WNC counties. It partners with 238 organizations in these 16 counties and distributes more than 50,000 lbs. of food daily to food pantries, soup kitchens, violence and insecure housing shelters, care centers for seniors and children and other direct human service organizations. EMGVA donated $1,000 to WNC neighbors.

To assist with food security throughout the year in Burke County, the Association has an ongoing project in which individual members donate groceries and fresh produce. During this summer’s growing season, member-grown produce was delivered to Options, Burke United Christian Ministries, the Glen Alpine Food Pantry and the Valdese Senior Housing Project. In October, the Glen Alpine Food Pantry received staple grocery donations from members.