Hot Thanksgiving Meals for Hurricane Helene Victims

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.

feeding Hurricane Helene victims at Thanksgiving

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.

Softening a Harsh World with Joy

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.”

Overcoming the Struggle of a Damaged Home

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.

building a new home for a family in need

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.

Overcoming a Facial Deformity: A Journey from Shame to Dignity

INDIA – In a small village, nestled away from the bustling world, Durga lived in shame. She was a young woman whose life was overshadowed by a facial deformity. Her struggle went far beyond the visible, as she was wounded not only physically but also emotionally by cruel words and stares. “What people say about my face is really hurtful,” Durga said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Their words broke my heart.”

The weight of this affliction forced Durga into isolation. She hid herself away, desperately trying to escape the lingering eyes and cruel remarks that followed her everywhere. The pain was so intense that it filled her mind with negative thoughts. “There have been times when I thought about killing myself,” she admitted, revealing the depths of her despair.

“There have been times when I thought about killing myself”
-Durga

A Glimmer of Hope: Ending Shame from a Facial Deformity

But even in the darkest moments, hope has a way of breaking through. For Durga, that hope came in the form of a life-changing opportunity—reconstructive surgery that could restore not just her face, but also her sense of self-worth.

When the bandages came off, the change was astounding. Durga emerged with her head held high, no longer hiding, no longer ashamed. The surgery had healed more than just her facial deformity; it had restored her lost dignity.

Today, Durga walks through her village with confidence. The stares she receives now are of admiration for her strength and resilience. Her transformation serves as an inspiration to others facing similar challenges.

Rescue Someone Else Today

Operation Blessing: Changing Lives One Surgery at a Time

Durga’s miraculous transformation was made possible through the efforts of kind-hearted Operation Blessing partners like you.

By continuing to support Operation Blessing, you can ensure that more people like Durga get the help they need. Your generosity can end the cycle of shame and isolation for countless individuals around the world.

Will you be the reason for someone’s smile today? Visit www.ob.org/givesurgeries to find out how you can provide a life-changing surgery and be part of someone’s miracle story.

Give the Gift of Surgery

Overcoming Water Scarcity

MEXICO – Nuevo Triunfo faced severe water scarcity challenges that impacted every aspect of community life. Families in the community were limited to minimal water collection times, often just one hour per night. The infrastructure was so inadequate that storing and transporting clean water seemed impossible. The old water system almost guaranteed a scarcity of clean water. The village was plagued by constant struggles, which included:

Frequent hose blockages
Limited water collection windows
Unsafe, untreated water sources
Insufficient water for daily household needs

A Breakthrough in Beating Water Scarcity

Thanks to the generosity of Operation Blessing partners, a comprehensive water system was implemented. The new system provided an effective solution to overcome water scarcity issues. It brought remarkable improvements, including:

Direct water access to each family home
Safe, reliable water storage tanks
Consistent water supply throughout the day
Elimination of nighttime water collection stress

Francisca, a local resident and mother of two, described the community’s gratitude: “I have no words to express how thankful I am to those who donated so we could be better off.”

“I have no words to express how thankful I am to those who donated so we could be better off.”
-Francisca

Clean Water Solutions: More Than Just Infrastructure

This project demonstrates that clean water solutions in Mexico are about more than pipes and tanks. They’re about restoring dignity, reducing health risks, and creating opportunities for communities to thrive.

Operation Blessing: Transforming Lives Through Generosity

Operation Blessing and our supporters have been instrumental in bringing hope to Nuevo Triunfo. The incredible generosity of partners like you has been the catalyst for this community’s transformation. You are the reason families like Francisca’s can now dream of a better future.

The Power of Your Support in Overcoming Water Scarcity

When you donate to Operation Blessing, you do more than provide water. You:

Restore hope to struggling communities
Improve health and living conditions
Create sustainable solutions for water-scarce regions

A Call to Continue the Mission

While Nuevo Triunfo’s story is one of success, countless communities still face water scarcity. By supporting clean water initiatives, together WE can continue to make a difference—one community at a time.

Sight Restored in South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA – Eye health challenges in South Africa’s rural communities can be overwhelming. When cataracts steal someone’s vision, the impact extends far beyond individual suffering. Families bear the emotional and economic burden of caring for loved ones who can no longer work, move independently, or participate fully in community life. But the kindness of Operation Blessing friends like you has made an impact in this remote region as people with vision problems experience restored sight!

Sight Restored in South Africa: A Ray of Hope

Modern eye surgery techniques have revolutionized how we approach vision care in South Africa. These precise, minimally invasive procedures can transform a person’s life in mere moments. Dr. Asanda Jonga describes the powerful moment of healing: “When we open the eyes of patients who have been blind for a very long time, they dance, rejoice, and sing with unbelievable joy.”

A Testament to Generosity

To our incredible partners: you are the architects of transformation. Your generosity does more than fund surgery—you are literally giving sight back to those who have lost hope. You are the reason individuals are reclaiming their independence.

The Broader Impact: More Than Just Sight

When you support eye surgery initiatives in South Africa, you’re doing more than restoring vision. You’re:

Helping adults resume work
Preventing social isolation
Reducing the economic burden on families

Join the Mission of Sight Restoration

Every contribution, no matter how small, creates a ripple effect of change. By supporting our life changing surgery efforts, you become part of a powerful movement of hope. Your partnership doesn’t just change individual lives—it can help transform entire communities.

Mud and Debris After Helene: Volunteers Battle a Mountain of Destruction

HELP DISASTER VICTIMS NOW

NORTH CAROLINA – In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastating strike on North Carolina, Charles and Maria faced the unthinkable: their home of 20 years buried beneath a mountain of mud and debris. The destructive force of nature had unleashed a massive landslide, creating a crisis that would test their faith.

Mountain of Mud Threatens Family’s Dream Home

“There was 80 tons of rock, mud, and 40-foot-long trees,” Charles recalled, his voice heavy with the memory of first witnessing the devastation. “We just looked at it and thought, we’re done. There’s no way we could even start.” The scope of destruction left the family contemplating the unthinkable: abandoning their beloved home. “I thought it was too big,” Maria shared, emotion evident in her voice. “Should we just walk away? I didn’t know… it was just too big.”

Hurricane Debris Cleanup Brings Community Together

That’s when you, our incredible partners and volunteers, stepped in to make the impossible possible. Through Operation Blessing, sixteen dedicated volunteers arrived ready to tackle the massive hurricane debris cleanup effort. Your support transformed a scene of devastation into a story of hope.

Partners in Disaster Relief: Your Impact

16 volunteers mobilized
Tons of hurricane mud cleared
Multiple days of intensive debris removal
One family’s home saved
Countless moments of hope restored

Hurricane Volunteers Demonstrate Love in Action

The partnership between Operation Blessing and Hope Community Church exemplified community service at its finest. Under Pastor Otis’s leadership, the hurricane volunteers worked tirelessly, moving mountains of mud one shovelful at a time. “The Bible says you will know them by their fruit,” Charles noted, watching the volunteers work. “You’re showing the love of Jesus more than anybody could show it.”

“You’re showing the love of Jesus more than anybody could show it.”
-Charles Markham

Hurricane Mud And Debris Cleanup Efforts Restore More Than Property

Your support made this incredible transformation possible. The hurricane mud and debris cleanup effort wasn’t just about clearing land, it was about restoring hope and demonstrating the power of community in crisis.

Pastor Otis witnessed firsthand how the cleanup effort impacted more than just the physical landscape. “Meeting people like that strong couple of faith, who have almost lost everything but one thing they have not lost is their love for Jesus Christ and their community… they have been just absolutely incredible to get to know.”

The Power of Your Support in Disaster Relief

You made this possible. Your generosity enabled Operation Blessing to respond swiftly and effectively to this crisis. The couple, overwhelmed by the support, are already looking forward to paying it forward. “If we can ever help, we’ll be there helping as well,” Maria promised. “I can’t wait to be on the other side of this.”

Help North Carolina Families Recover

Every day, families face similar challenges. Your continued support enables Operation Blessing and local partners to help families recover. You can make the difference between devastation and recovery for the next family facing a crisis. Your partnership ensures that no family has to face these challenges alone.

HELP DISASTER VICTIMS NOW

Family’s Miracle Journey: From Medical Crisis to Successful Business

CAMBODIA – Sary is a dedicated mother who sold everything — including her house and land — to save her teenage daughter’s life. With huge medical bills, came a financial strain that Sary could not overcome. While Sary struggled, she had no idea that YOU would help facilitate this family’s miracle journey from financial devastation to one of abundance.

Together with Operation Blessing, friends like you helped Sary establish a thriving grocery business, providing her with essential business training and mentorship that transformed her life. This initiative created a sustainable income for her family, which had been on the brink of financial ruin after selling everything to cover her daughter’s critical medical expenses.

With a renewed sense of hope and support, Sary not only stabilized her income but also expanded her venture, opening a second grocery store in a neighboring village. Through this business, she now earns enough to support her family, illustrating the profound impact of Operation Blessing’s programs.

A Family’s Miracle Journey Leads to a Remarkable Transformation

From earning $5-10 daily in profits to opening a second shop in another village, you truly transformed this family. Watch the video to see this remarkable transformation.

Thank you for making this powerful story of hope and resilience possible. Please continue to partner with us to help families like Sary’s rebuild their lives and create lasting change in their communities.

From Hurricane Devastation to Restoration in Brazoria

TEXAS – The wind howled, and trees groaned as Hurricane Beryl unleashed its fury on eastern Texas. For Kymberly and her family, the hurricane devastation of the storm was beyond anything they could have imagined. “We hadn’t really had a hurricane hit us the way it did,” Kymberly recalled. “We heard some trees cracking and some noises outside.”

The morning after the storm, Kymberly surveyed the damage to her property. “It took my breath away … it was devastating,” she said. “The first thing I noticed was my chicken coop. It was leaning. It looked completely destroyed. Then I noticed the big tree in the back that completely covered the backyard and all the debris. There were tree limbs down everywhere.”

Faced with the daunting task of cleanup after the hurricane devastation of Beryl, Kymberly felt lost. With her husband working long hours and her time consumed by her children, she wasn’t sure how to begin the recovery ordeal. “I knew it was going to be a process to get everything back to normal, knowing that this was going to take so long to clean up,” she shared.

That’s when compassionate friends like you stepped in through Operation Blessing.

Our disaster relief team had deployed even before Hurricane Beryl made landfall. So they were already on the ground nearby and ready to help when it was discovered that Brazoria was one of the hardest-hit areas. Half the city had lost electricity, and there were downed trees on almost every street.

Operation Blessing partnered with First Baptist Church of Brazoria to distribute crucial supplies and coordinate volunteer efforts throughout the region. Thanks to your generosity, we were ready to help families like Kymberly’s in their time of need.

“I actually met with a gentleman who was telling me that they were offering help to people whose yards were a disaster,”

Kymberly explained. Soon, Operation Blessing volunteers were hard at work on her property. “All the guys in blue that you see, they are in my yard helping me and cleaning my yard up.” Following the intense hurricane destruction, your support enabled our team to remove large trees and limbs, making Kymberly’s property safe for her family again—especially the kids. “I don’t have to worry about them getting in any of the trees and the limbs and all of that,” she said gratefully.

Kymberly’s heart overflows with gratitude for friends like you. “I’m very thankful for anyone who chooses to donate with Operation Blessing. They are doing the work out of the kindness of their hearts.” Your compassion has brought hope and healing to hurting families across eastern Texas and, more recently, to residents in Louisiana after Hurricane Francine. Thank you for being there in their time of need!

Blessings Abound for Kenyan Girls

KENYA – Thanks to generous friends like you blessings abound for Kenyan girls. The 452 students at Nyiro Girls Secondary School in Kenya no longer have to share only four toilets. Your kindness has provided a new 14-stall latrine system and a water tank that sends clean water to enough handwashing stations so the girls can wash their hands and prevent the spread of infections. You even blessed the girls with sanitary products so they wouldn’t have to miss classes.

Principal Roseline is grateful for your care. “The girls’ concentration is now on their classwork, and I believe the performance is going to improve.” Truly, blessings abound for Kenyan girls as a result of your kindness.

“We no longer have to crowd around the tanks as they are at designated points, and we can freely access these tanks for drinking water and handwashing. … Thank you so much to Operation Blessing!”
–Rehema, student