COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — The Mountain Ways Foundation recently received a total of $2 million, after Dolly Parton said she would donate half that amount and it would be matched by her foundation.
The nonprofit began in the wake of the deadly 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires, and its founders said they took inspiration from the way the community came together. It was originally located at the Crossroads Community Church but is moving to a new location at 1190 Old Asheville Highway.
Lori Moore, its executive director, said the nonprofit has been overrun by donations and has outgrown the space provided by the church.
"This is what we do. We come together, we care for our neighbors, we love on each other and this is just the physical outpouring of that. It's been a beautiful thing to see the donations that have come in across the country to help in this effort," Moore said.
Being a relatively new organization, Moore said she wants to ensure people that donations are going to those who need them most.
"Donations are being distributed to the places that have the most need — 100% of the donations that come in will go to recovery and relief efforts," she said.
Moore said since the founders cover all administrative costs, all donations go straight to people impacted by flooding and Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and the greater Appalachian area.
She said the nonprofit is working with local, regional, state and federal leaders to assess what the greatest needs are and where they are. They are also working closely with Dollywood. Moore said having Dolly Parton's support means so much to the foundation.
"We are the beneficiaries of Dolly trusting us with her money. That means a lot to us and we want to be the best stewards of those funds," she said.
Donations are coming in every day. Volunteer Leader Logan Baker said it's great getting necessities like food and water, but now they want to move to the next step.
"Most areas are getting to the point where they're past what we're calling phase one: the survival needs of food and water. We're moving into more of what we're calling a sustainable phase. Phase two — needing stuff to generate power. So, we're taking in generators, gas, propane and charcoal. Also, winter things because cold weather is coming, like blankets and coats," Baker said.
While the nonprofit helps several communities, Baker said it's doing everything it can to ensure people get what they need.
"We've set up our own boots on the ground in each one of these cities. We have contacts that contact us every day and let us know what they need, and then we take it to them and they make sure it gets dispersed out. So we know exactly where it's going and what the needs are every single day," he said.
He said volunteers have been working nonstop to unload, unpack, sort and reload supplies. They are focusing on sending supplies out to places that need it, but Baker said anyone in need can also stop by and pick supplies up themselves.