
Hurricane Helene nearly forced James Scarborough back into homelessness until social media connected him with caring strangers determined to prevent such outcomes.
Scarborough found “Western NC Holiday Hope” while searching Facebook, joining other mountain residents impacted by the devastating storm. The group matches affected families with donors nationwide.
Living on disability payments of $1,000 monthly, Scarborough and his wife watched floodwaters destroy their trailer home furnishings. “Everything below waist height was ruined,” he said.
The couple previously experienced homelessness during Covid before securing housing assistance. “We worked so hard to build stability,” Scarborough said. “Then one storm threatened everything.”
Through the Facebook program, donors purchased replacement items from the couple’s wish list. The support prevented them from returning to life on the streets.
Scarborough expressed profound gratitude toward the initiative’s founder, Dana Flaherty, and participating donors. “They restored our hope when we needed it most,” he said.
The campaign expanded beyond material aid, creating connections between donors and recipients. Many maintain contact through thank-you messages and recovery updates.
“This experience changed how I view humanity,” Scarborough said. “Complete strangers became guardian angels for families like mine.”