Our Founder
Lauren Dellinger
On the morning of Friday, September 27th, 2024 Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina with a force that no one could have anticipated. I was at home with my 18 month old baby, listening to trees in our own yard (in Denver, NC) snap and fall every few minutes. I had just received a message from my mother in Black Mountain saying that the water was rising and it had already began to flood my aunts house. That was at 7:00 AM on Friday and I did not have contact again with my mom until Sunday evening. While those 3 days of no connection was terrifying, it was no where close to what I was about to experience in the next 7 days.
On Tuesday, following the storm, my husband and I made the trek up the mountain to bring my mother, aunt and other family fuel, water and other essentials. At this time, hubs weren't established, it was pure survival. What normally would take us 1.5 hours to get there, took us nearly 7. The destruction that we encountered will forever be engrained in my memory. We were just a few miles away from my grandmothers house when we came up to a bridge that had been totally wiped away. We couldn't believe it. But we soon realized, that bridge was nothing compared to others we came across. I remember driving down the mountain with my husband, in silence and tears streaming down my face trying to process what we had witnessed that day. At that exact moment, on i40 headed home, I knew my purpose in life was shifting and I asked God to lead me where He needed me.
During those next 7 days, with the help of friends and strangers, family members and neighbors we were able to coordinate helicopter drops, go door to door to homes that were not accessible a few days prior, offer assistance and essential supplies and just pray over these neighbors. Seven days turned into almost two months and we haven't stopped aiding since.
Why "Divine"
One trip up the mountain (Day 43), we were headed to drop off a generator to a family who lost everything, was living in a tent by the Swannanoa River. After 43 days they still had no power and were living in a tent. Their needs were simple: a generator and a wheel barrow (spoiler alert, I owe my husband a new wheelbarrow). This mission quite literally fell in my lap as I saw a sweet woman from Knoxville post about this family Friday night. There were hundreds of comments and shared but for some reason, she answered mine! Divine intervention. When we pulled up to the family’s address, there was no address, just a dirt road. Emi and Ugur. Ugur was a doctor in Istanbul for 15 years, moved to Houston and then just retired on the Swannanoa River 5 years ago. I’m including a Google Earth screenshot of the family and their daughter and son’s properties before the storm. Emi talked about all the greenery and trees and how her favorite mulberry tree was still standing and she hopes it grows green again. She shared her storm story with us. How her granddaughter, 13 months old woke her daughter up next door in the middle of the night and her daughter realized the water rising and the small creek beside their lot was flowing upstream instead of down. They woke up Emi and Ugur who then called all the neighbors they could to tell them to leave. She said unfortunately 15 of her neighbors on her street didn’t make it. Our 2 hours we spent talking with this family was 2 of the most precious hours in my life, to be quite frank. This family praised us, thanked us, cried with us and embraced us. In fact, she was more excited about the wheelbarrow and it being her favorite color, blue than getting power back. This family is one I know we will continue to hold the hands of Christ with.
This encounter was nothing short of a miracle for me, personally. It was God leading me to my calling and ensuring me that He would hold my hand through this all. Divine Intervention.
I vow to be a healing aid to our friends and neighbors as they rebuild. And am so thankful for those joining this journey with me.
God Bless,
Lauren
Our Board
Crystal Abernathy
Crystal Abernathy
Crystal Abernathy
I support Divine Disaster Relief because I am deeply inspired by its mission to provide divine intervention during times of devastation. I believe in the transformative power of hope, compassion, and community, and I want to be part of an organization that embodies these values. By helping people rebuild their homes, restore their livelihoods, and regain stability after natural disasters, I can play a role in offering tangible relief and empowering others to rebuild their lives. The organization’s commitment to purposeful, pure, and powerful action resonates with me, and I am honored to contribute to a cause that truly makes a difference in the lives of those affected by calamities like Hurricane Helene.
Jamie Tipton
Crystal Abernathy
Crystal Abernathy
Hope and Healing are my why. I have long been called to help and show up when people are in need. It is not to be a hero or to fix and make them whole but it is to help ease their burden in times of distress, give them hope when it is hard to see, and help them find strength within to start to heal. Divine Disaster Relief and all that this organization stands for is the epitome of my values and what I strive to bring to others. We cannot stop natural disasters, but we strive to give those affected by them a little bit of hope and a path for healing.
Samantha Woods
Crystal Abernathy
Samantha Woods
Having spent the last six years working for a company dedicated to offering hope to children battling cancer, I have witnessed firsthand the vital importance of extending support and encouragement to those facing challenges. Natural disasters bring widespread devastation, and I am proud to be a part of Divine Disaster Relief, where we aim to spread hope, provide assistance, and deliver resources to those in need.
Kaley Phan
Shannon Malmstrom
Samantha Woods
Being a nurse by trade and a mother by nature, I am so grateful to be a part of Divine Disaster Relief. To be able to provide pure, purposeful assistance to those affected is a privilege that I’ll continue to hold to the utmost standard. Being raised and having lived in the Appalachian Mountains has moved me to participate in any way possible to ensure hope and necessities are restored to our family, friends, and neighbors.
Rachel Lynch
Shannon Malmstrom
Shannon Malmstrom
After witnessing the disaster of Hurricane Helene and the resilience of those affected, I felt compelled to help rebuild lives and communities. The gratitude we received for delivering supplies ignited a fire within me to do even more!
Shannon Malmstrom
Shannon Malmstrom
Shannon Malmstrom
Despite my initial inability to fully process what I was witnessing, my heart was filled with love and gratitude for those who've allowed us to assist. I am deeply motivated to bring hope and healing to those affected by disaster, offering comfort and reassurance that they are not forgotten. I am also committed to supporting the long-term recovery efforts, helping to rebuild both communities and lives. With my data qualifications, I am inspired to connect resources, streamline recovery processes, and serve with efficiency and compassion.