This page serves as a community resource for students, family, alumni and friends of King University who are working to help each other recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
As of Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, many cell phone towers in northeast Tennessee and western North Carolina are still down and many roadways remain impassable. While the King campus itself suffered little damage, we are working to clean up tree debris and connect with members of our community.
The recovery process is an evolving situation, and we know that it will be a marathon, not a sprint, to help our neighbors.
Here are a few ways you can help make a difference:
- If you are attending the Bristol Chamber of Commerce First Friday breakfast this week, bring an item or items to donate. Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee will have a collections trailer in front of Maclellan Hall.
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- We will also be collecting coats for Coats for Kids during this time – Helene has made this an even more important event for area families. Distribution Day is Nov. 2.
- If you will be with us for KingFest this Saturday, Oct. 5th, you can also bring items then. The City of Bristol, Tennessee will have a collections trailer on campus from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. We need a couple volunteers to help staff this – if you are available to help, please email Logan Jennings at [email protected].
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- Both these organizations are connecting with those in Elizabethton and beyond who can helicopter supplies into the mountains.
- You can also give online to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. They are leveraging monetary donations to buy tractor-trailer-size shipments of food and water and can deliver these directly to the staging points.
In the meantime, if you know of a student or student family that needs help, please email [email protected].
If you know of an alum who needs assistance, please email [email protected].
Campus resources are also available to students, including:
- Counseling Services: Our counseling office is available to provide emotional support and mental health resources for students. To schedule an appointment, call (423) 652-4742 or email [email protected]. While the building is temporarily closed, services remain available.
- Chaplain’s Office: For spiritual support, please reach out to the Chaplain’s Office for prayer and pastoral care. The Chaplain’s Office can also connect you with local resources or offer assistance in navigating these challenges. You can contact them at (423) 652-4157 or email [email protected].
- Housing and Basic Needs: If you are facing housing challenges or need assistance with basic necessities such as contacting local resources and temporary housing for students, please contact Student Affairs at (423) 652-4740 or email [email protected].
- Academic Accommodations: Faculty members are prepared to work with students who may need additional support or flexibility during this time. If you need academic accommodations, please contact Student Success by calling 423.652.6372 or by email at [email protected]
Reminder: All King students have access to 24/7 virtual medical care appointments, free of charge, through TimelyCare. This includes counseling appointments (in addition to those available through King’s counseling center). If you have not yet registered, download the app or register at timelycare.com/tornado
Please Note: We do plan to celebrate KingFest on Saturday, October 5 and look forward to welcoming everyone. If you are traveling from points south, west, or east of Bristol, check the latest roadway updates as sections of I-26 and I-40 remain closed around Asheville. Hundreds of secondary roads in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee (Elizabethton and Erwin, in particular) are also blocked or washed out. Currently, I-81 and I-77 are largely unaffected.
You may also want to check with your preferred local hotel to make sure they have availability. Some of the traffic from I-26 and I-40 is being routed along I-81, and we have a large number of line and road crews traveling through the region to help (thank you!).
Lila Ray update: For those concerned about Lila, we have heard that she’s safe with family in Spartanburg and in good spirits!