NORTH CAROLINA – Western North Carolina is still feeling the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. With Christmas approaching, many families still battling homelessness faced the daunting prospect of a bleak holiday season. However, thanks to your generosity, a hundred families in the region were able to experience the joy of Christmas because you sent Christmas cheer to Asheville.
With your help, Operation Blessing, set up a special Christmas village to provide families with gifts, food, and fun activities. “This Christmas season, Operation Blessing is bringing joy to Western North Carolina,” said Haley, a representative from the organization. “We want to reflect on Christ’s love, and that he brings light to even difficult situations.”
The Christmas village was a merry sight, complete with decorated trees, crafts, games, and snacks for everyone. Parents were able to shop for gifts. You ensured that no child would be left without a present on Christmas morning.
“This is a big help to us this Christmas,” said one grateful parent, Christian. “Even to get a Christmas tree, plus all the presents and the jackets and the pajamas, it’s very, very nice.”
The impact of your work was evident on the faces of the children. “Whenever I see those kids’ faces,” said Ana, a volunteer, “it makes my heart full. It makes me realize I’m around the right people. Like, this is amazing. You see those little faces, it does everything.”
For many families, the Christmas village was a lifesaver. “It was a great blessing,” said another parent. “It was a miracle. We didn’t know how we were going to buy gifts for all the kids, and so it was an incredible, incredible blessing.”
You Can Make a Differencein Asheville and Beyond
The road to recovery for these Hurricane Helene survivors continues; but with your continued support, we can ensure they don’t walk it alone. Your generosity has already made a profound impact, bringing joy, hope, and Christmas to families during this difficult time.
Now, as we continue our efforts to support the homeless in North Carolina and work towards improving their temporary housing situation, your ongoing support remains crucial. You are the reason these families can see a glimmer of hope in these dark hours. Thank you again for sending Christmas cheer to Asheville. Your generosity today can bring light, hope, and tangible support to those who need it most in the aftermath of disasters like Hurricane Helene.
Overcoming rickets in Nigeria is no easy feat. Joan’s journey depicts the difficulties faced by many children who are in the midst of this battle.
Born with bowed legs, she experienced the cruel reality of being different. Walking became a challenge, and school felt like an insurmountable obstacle. She also faced bullying due to her condition. Her parents, despite their best efforts, could not afford the expensive surgery needed to correct her condition. Economic instability and massive government layoffs had left them, and so many others, financially desperate.
Operation Blessing: Turning Hope into Reality
In the most critical moment, Operation Blessing emerged as a lifeline. When her family had exhausted all options, the organization stepped in to provide life-changing surgery. Now Joan’s life has changed in amazing ways, and she can do things that seemed impossible before. She has straight, healthy legs. She moves without pain. With the gift of surgery, she has a new confidence and is free from the bullying which once tormented her.
Your Impact: Overcoming Rickets and Changing Lives
To our incredible partners and donors, you are the reason children like Joan can dream again. For Joan, overcoming rickets was only made possible by YOU! Your generosity transformed her despair into a new life of hope and promise.
A Special Partnership
By supporting Operation Blessing, you become part of a transformative mission. Together, we can bring help and hope to a hurting world.
NORTH CAROLINA– I can’t begin to describe the impact your love has meant to me and the people of western North Carolina following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. As an Operation Blessing staff member, I have seen the damage that storms can cause. But this tragedy was personal. This one hit my home. And so I was asked to tell the story of Helene from my unique perspective and to share how your compassion has made a huge difference.
When the alarm on my cell phone blared at 3 a.m., I panicked. “Flash flood warning. Evacuate to higher ground immediately.” I raced to the front door, unsure of what awaited outside. I could hear the roar of the river across the street from my home. The problem was … we couldn’t see it in the darkness.
My husband put on his boots and grabbed a flashlight. For the moment, our road was clear, and we were safe. We packed our car and waited—checking every hour until dawn, having no idea how badly our area would soon need your help.
When the track of Hurricane Helene shifted toward our region, I had been concerned but not worried. A low-pressure system had already saturated the ground and rivers prior to the storm. We had experienced heavy rains before and knew they would cause downed trees and power outages, but we never expected what would happen next.
By the morning, our river had overflowed its banks. It continued to rise until the storm passed. Then the water level held steady. Even though we lived in a designated flood zone, the river never reached our neighborhood.
We were lucky. But so many others were not, and they would desperately need your support.
The towns of Chimney Rock and Swannanoa were destroyed. Popular areas of Asheville, like the River Arts District and Biltmore Village, were under water. Homes and businesses crumbled into the swelling rivers. People were trapped behind mountain roads that had completely washed out. The death toll kept rising, eventually into the hundreds.
Massive Hurricane Damage from Helene
In the days that followed, even as you were sending help, residents across Appalachia struggled with no electricity, water, or any communications. They waited in long lines for hours to get a few gallons of gas or purchase food from the grocery store—that is, if they had cash. Cell towers had been damaged, and all card readers were down. I couldn’t even send a simple text to my family for several days to let them know I was safe. Helene left our strong mountain community vulnerable and traumatized.
“Many would have left town if they had the resources,” said my friend and coworker Hayley Henson, our national media liaison who lives in Asheville. “There are many low-income communities. They can’t leave. They don’t have access to cash. And the jobs that they had are gone.” Hayley couldn’t contact her loved ones for two days, but she stepped into action.
Thanks to you, our US Disaster Relief team was already in place to respond. Immediately, they shifted their focus from Florida to devastated areas of Georgia and North Carolina. For the first time, our international disaster relief team joined them for a combined effort. Together, and with your support, they offered hot meals, supplies, debris cleanup, and hope to our heartbroken communities.
When Hayley reported the stories, she struggled to hold back tears. “This is where we live. These are our neighbors. I moved here because it was a haven. But the town I loved is gone. And people just down the road have lost everything and are living in tents,” Hayley said.
“But the town I loved is gone. And people just down the road have lost everything and are living in tents.”
-Hayley Henson
As the situation unfolded, you made it possible for our team to utilize helicopters to make drops to remote areas, delivering vital supplies and much-needed water filtration systems. Operation Blessing also partnered with churches to provide an uplifting event to encourage people’s souls.
The Story of Helene: A Community Uniting to Help One Another
But for both Hayley and me, the biggest thing to come out of this tragedy was seeing our community, as well as friends like you from around the country, unite to help those who were hurting most.
Strangers cried together in parking lots. Neighbors checked in on each other. Churches set up relief centers to offer support in any way they could. In partnership with Operation Blessing, your love sent tangible aid and hope to people trapped in devastated neighborhoods who couldn’t get help. For them, you were truly a lifeline! “This was traumatic,” Hayley said. “But God is using these dark moments to invite us to call on Him.”
“This was traumatic,” Hayley said. “But God is using these dark moments to invite us to call on Him.”
-Hayley Henson
When I first arrived at our distribution point in east Asheville, a coworker hugged me. I couldn’t stop crying. You had sent them all this way to help my community. “It’s the least we can do,” he told me. “It’s the very least we can do.” And I knew he meant it.
As the story of Helene ran its course, I felt the heart of Operation Blessing that day in a whole new way. That’s the love you give through this ministry. Thank you for showing compassion during times of crisis.
CAMBODIA – As parents, you will do anything for your children. If they are sad, you’ll comfort them with hugs and love. If they’re in need, you’ll give them your last dollar. But what do you do when what they need is out of your reach to provide?
When Baby Dey was born with a severe cleft palate and lip, his parents were plagued with how they would get their son the medical attention he needed. Oral clefts are birth defects that make it difficult for children to eat and drink. Since these babies often struggle to take in the nutrients they need to thrive, they can be at risk of malnutrition and a weakened immune system.
Although Dey’s father worked hard, he knew his income wouldn’t be enough to care for his family and save for his son’s much-needed surgery. Dey’s health deteriorated as he battled frequent colds and weight loss.
The children in his community began to make fun of him, taunting him as “cleft lip boy.” His sister stood as his champion, defending him against anyone who spoke negatively of him, while his parents continued to hold onto hope that their little one would receive a miracle.
Thanks to you, their prayers were answered. Dey’s parents learned about Operation Blessing and found out that their son could not only receive oral cleft surgery, but that it would be free! And through the generosity of supporters like you, Dey received surgery as promised.
The surgery was a success. Dey gained weight, his health improved, and his family was filled with joy. His mother smiled as she said that now he looks like any other handsome boy.
Dey’s new beginning is a testament to the power of compassionate care and the importance of supporting life-changing surgeries. Your kindness helped give Dey’s family so much peace. Baby Dey can live a healthy life without derision due to the complications from an oral cleft. His sister does not have to worry about children bullying or picking on him. His parents know that their child is healed. And this profound impact is all because of you!
PERU – As the sun rose over the beautiful mountain vistas in Peru, Jhan Marco (age 9) gathered an armload of buckets and bottles. But he didn’t notice the stunning views that attract tourists to the Andes highlands every year. He didn’t visit the closest city of Puno, nearly two hours away, or take tours of Peru’s famous ancient ruins. Jhan Marco was on a mission. For him, daily live was dominated by the limitation of access to clean water.
With the containers in hand, he grabbed his bike and started on his journey. He rode down a dry, rocky path, alongside pastures where his family’s livestock grazed, to reach the river. Once there, he filled each bucket and bottle carefully. He couldn’t afford to lose a single precious drop. Then he loaded up his bicycle and headed back home again.
The mission took Jhan Marco over an hour each day, but he had no other choice. The only water available within Llinquipata, his village, was an open artesian well filled with bacteria. “The well water smells bad and has frogs,” Jhan Marco said. His family desperately needed water for drinking, cooking, and washing. So, every day, he made the long journey to the river—until friends like you intervened and brought the gift of joy.
Like Jhan Marco and his five siblings, their parents had lived in Llinquipata since birth. The daily struggle with clean water was one his family had known for generations. “We need water for living,” said Cirila, Jhan Marco’s mother. “Our animals, our cattle—they all suffer too, because they need water to drink.”
“We need water for living, our animals, our cattle—they all suffer too, because they need water to drink.”
-Cirila, Jhan Marco’s Mother
But the water Jhan Marco brought home from the river wasn’t clean. Even boiling it didn’t help. “At times, we’ve fallen ill,” Jhan Marco told us. “I didn’t feel like doing anything and had no energy. I was feeling bad, tired, and dizzy.”
As a mother, Cirila was desperate for a solution. The need for access to clean water is essential for her family to prosper. “Every one of my kids are very important for me. … I worry about their education and health,” she said. “We pray that God can hear us and let us one day have clean water for use and for drinking.”
God did hear her prayers and sent your love to the rescue! Together with the partnership of our faithful supporters, we were able to find an alternative water source for the residents of Llinquipata. Kindness from friends like you enabled us to build an above-ground tank to store the water and purify it through a chlorination process. The tank uses solar energy to pump fresh, clean water that then flows to every home and family in the community. And, thanks to your help, the residents of Llinquipata have bathrooms for the very first time. Now, they can wash their hands and practice good hygiene to stay healthy and free from waterborne illnesses.
Today, Jhan Marco no longer has to make the long daily trek to the river to collect water or fear getting sick from drinking it. Instead, he and the other children in his village can focus on their education and spend time with their families.
You have been a part of this incredible gift for Jhan Marco and his siblings. By providing them access to clean water you have given him hope for a different future. “I am very happy to have clean water! Thank you very much!”
ASIA – We’re so thankful that our generous partners like you love to give a hand up to hardworking people who are struggling. And one of the exciting ways you’ve gotten to do that in recent years is by training women to make traditional handcrafted items—including festive Christmas ornaments! In both Thailand and Indonesia, our artisans create beautiful handicrafts, that help them support their equally beautiful families. Thank you for making these inspiring outreaches possible!
“This project is great. It changes the lives of the women of our church. Mothers who care for young children at home earn a living. They are overjoyed. They have also received additional money as a result of this project. … Thank you, Operation Blessing!” –Methawee, age 26
“This project is great. It changes the lives of the women of our church. Mothers who care for young children at home earn a living. They are overjoyed.They have also received additional money as a result of this project. … Thank you, Operation Blessing!”
NIGERIA – As tensions filled the air in Nigeria, an Operation Blessing medical team embarked on a grueling 12-hour journey to the little village of Mbak Ekpe. Despite the potential dangers of nationwide protests against the government, they pressed on. They were driven by the support of friends like you and a mission to bring hope to a community in need by providing much needed medical care in Nigeria
When they arrived at Mbak Ekpe Primary School, team members received a warm welcome. The community leader beamed as he shared how thankful his villagers were to have this incredible help. This mission was about more than just medical care—it was about restoring hope.
Then it was time for the work to begin, but not before giving it to God. The team gathered for a morning devotional, seeking strength and guidance for the days ahead. Then they introduced the innovative BackpackEMR technology—specifically created to provide medical records for clinics in rural locales—that would improve local care by allowing physicians and volunteers to focus on what mattered most—caring for patients.
As the team welcomed patient after patient, it quickly became clear what a difference good technology could make, taking quality care to the next level. The registration unit efficiently checked in people via iPads, while nurses recorded vital signs and doctors made informed decisions based on comprehensive patient histories they could access for the first time digitally.
In a temporary surgical theatre, volunteer surgeons performed minor procedures with precision. The lab buzzed with activity as technicians conducted various tests, from malaria screenings to blood sugar tests.
One patient expressed her overwhelming gratitude. “Many of our people have been suffering from different kinds of diseases. So this week we are happy because … so many kinds of medicines were given to them.”
Specialized Medical Care in Nigeria to Fill Multiple Needs
Specialized units offered tailored care to many residents. The pharmacy unit ensured that patients left with medications if prescribed by a doctor. Optometrists checked for conditions like glaucoma and myopia, providing glasses and medication to those in need. And in the dental unit, relieved patients received much-needed extractions and cleanings.
Another beneficiary shared, “It’s not easy in these hard times for somebody to do something like this to help people, so I appreciate it. May God bless you in Jesus’ name.”
Yet your love didn’t stop with physical care. Our team partnered with local pastors who provided comfort through counseling and prayer, sharing good news of hope in Jesus Christ.
For four days, the team worked tirelessly, touching many lives. By the end of the mission, they had treated 378 patients, each one a testament to what your compassion can accomplish for a hurting world.
As the Operation Blessing team prepared to leave Mbak Ekpe, they were thankful as they recalled the joy on so many faces.
Your support made this possible. Through your generosity, you’ve not only provided essential medical care in Nigeria but also rekindled hope in a community. Thank you for being a part of initiatives like these.
NORTH CAROLINA – In the heart of Western North Carolina, families affected by Hurricane Helene are still grappling with the storm’s aftermath. Months have passed, but the scars remain—homes to rebuild, lives to restore, and hopes to rekindle. Operation Blessing has been on the ground in Asheville, working tirelessly to bring not just physical nourishment but also spiritual comfort to hurting families. This holiday, your kindness made it possible to serve hot Thanksgiving meals to Hurricane Helene victims.
Food for Hurricane Helene Victims
At a bustling setup in downtown Asheville, Operation Blessing created a space where families could come together to share a warm meal. Each plate was thoughtfully prepared with Thanksgiving classics. For families who have faced months of uncertainty and hardship, this meal wasn’t just food—it was a reminder that they are not alone. The impact was clear in the smiles and gratitude of the people served. For many, it was not just a meal but a moment to reconnect and feel the love and hope that Thanksgiving embodies.
Hot Thanksgiving Meals for Hurricane Helene Victims: More Than Just Food
The meals satisfied more than hunger; they offered a sense of community and healing. Families found a safe place to sit, share stories, and experience the love and warmth that many feared was lost. Your unwavering generosity has ensured that these families could feel the comfort and connection that Thanksgiving represents.
Operation Blessing: Extending Hope Beyond the Table
While providing Thanksgiving meals is a beautiful act of love, Operation Blessing’s work doesn’t stop there. Through the incredible support of donors like you, Operation Blessing continues to extend compassion and care to those facing insurmountable challenges. We are currently working with two other Christian organizations to rebuild over 150 houses in the Asheville area.
This Thanksgiving, as we reflect on the warmth and kindness shared with Hurricane Helene victims, let us also celebrate the profound difference you make in the lives of those who need it most. Thank you for standing with us and for being the hands and feet of love in a world that desperately needs it.
KENYA – For families living in the vast Mathare slums of Nairobi, Kenya, life has never been easy. Over half a million people inhabit the flimsy, tin-roofed housing in this densely packed community. But what had been difficult became truly impossible last spring, when the region was pounded with heavy rains that went on for days—leading to severe flooding after an upstream dam burst. This deluge swept away the homes and livelihoods of over 3,000 people.
“When the floods happened, we lost everything,” explained Mary, a single mother of two. In the aftermath of the disaster, she faced unimaginable hardship as she struggled to provide for her children. “Our home was washed away and completely destroyed. We had no food or clean water. I did not know how we were going to survive.”
“Our home was washed away and completely destroyed. We had no food or clean water. I did not know how we were going to survive.”
-Mary, Single Mother of 2 & Flood Victim
But through Operation Blessing, you stepped in with essentials to help people during this hard time. Your care and generosity made it possible for us to provide rice, beans, and canned goods to ensure nutritious meals. The mosquito netting you supplied helped prevent the disease that can run rampant after such a disaster, and blankets kept the survivors warm. The solar-powered lights you sent have meant greater safety and security in the community. And jerrycans made it possible for families to collect and store water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation when their water source was compromised.
“I am so grateful to Operation Blessing Kenya,” Mary said with heartfelt appreciation. “The food they provided was a blessing. It meant my children did not have to go to bed hungry anymore. We had clean water to drink, and for the first time since the floods, I felt a sense of hope.”
Mary and her children were able to stay with a friend, so they had a roof over their heads. And they found hope amid devastation thanks to your timely intervention.
For Mary, the aid was a lifeline. “Now I can provide for my children again, and we are slowly recovering from the disaster. I will always be thankful for your support.”
Because of your love and care, Mary and 500 other families have found a path to recovery and a renewed sense of hope for the future.
“My children can now eat and sleep and are back in school,” Mary added with a smile. “The future looks bright, and I have hope again.”
PERU – For years, Lilian, a single mother of three, lived under the shadow of uncertainty. A storm had torn through their modest house, leaving the family with a compromised roof and fragile walls. Their home was no longer a sanctuary—it became a constant source of worry and hardship. Now, her daily life seemed to revolve around the reality of overcoming the struggle of a damaged home, and a reality filled with challenges and misery.
For Lilian, providing for her children was a daily challenge. “One of my goals has been to fix my house,” she shared, “but I can’t make repairs and provide food for my children. They only eat twice a day, sometimes only once.”
During the rainy season, the situation became dire. The family often slept under the threat of rainwater soaking their clothes and bedding. Lilian’s young son Luciano said, “When the wind and rains come, our beds and clothes get soaked. I worry a main beam will break and fall on us.”
“I can’t make repairs and provide food for my children. They only eat twice a day, sometimes only once.”
-Lillian
The family confined themselves to a small section of the house covered by a partial roof. The lack of security and stability weighed heavily on Lilian. “I can’t leave the children when I have to go out,” she said. Every decision was a balancing act with safety, food, and shelter constantly at odds.
Finding New Hope in Peru
Lilian’s story is not unique in Peru, where many families grapple with the reality of living in unsafe homes. Yet, her journey took a transformative turn thanks to the efforts of Operation Blessing and compassionate supporters like you. Through the generosity of our donors, Lilian’s family was provided with a new home, complete with sturdy walls, a full roof, and essential furnishings like beds, a kitchen, and other furnishings.
The impact on Lilian’s life was immediate and profound. “In my new house, we are protected. Now I am calm. I know my children are safe and comfortable in their beds,” she said, her voice filled with gratitude. The new home gave her family not just physical safety but also a renewed sense of dignity and hope.
The Role of Generosity in Overcoming Adversity
What makes these efforts possible is the extraordinary generosity of partners like you. Your contributions ensure that families have the chance to rebuild their lives after facing unimaginable hardships. You are the reason Lilian and her children sleep soundly in a secure home.
Transforming Lives, One Family at a Time
Through your support, Operation Blessing continues to empower families in Peru and around the world, ensuring that they have the resources and opportunities to thrive. Together, we can bring hope and healing to those who need it most.
