From hurricane devastation to hope: The journey of The Blessing Project

SWANNANOA, N.C. (WNCN) — Kristen Hicks is the founder of the nonprofit, The Blessing Project. They serve the Swannanoa community every Tuesday and Thursday, providing essential items such as food, clothing, and hygiene products free of charge.

“I say all the time we were birthed out of a hurricane, but we’re here for the hardships,” said Hicks.  

Lori Buckner is one of many volunteers supporting Kristen on this mission.

“It’s amazing what she does to help all these people,” said Buckner.  

She says it has been tough to see people still struggling a year later.

“You see all kinds of stuff. You see people coming in that are down to their lowest, and they’re in tears when they walk in, and when they walk out, there’s a smile on their face because they got the things they need,” said Buckner.   

One year ago, Kristen was busy being a wife and mother of four kids when Helene left behind destruction.

“Devastation, it was beyond words,” Hicks said. “It was a lot of sadness, a lot of fear.”

At the time, she owned a successful social media company and a software company. But she says her life’s purpose shifted to do something bigger.

“I was being pulled in so many directions, especially being a mom of 4, and so I eventually had to put those down,” said Hicks. 

Her family was fortunate to have suffered no significant damage to their home, and she immediately went to help.

“A friend of mine had said Kristen was coming all the way from Hickory, we have a truckload full of blessings,” said Hicks.

So, she called her friends at Pine View Buildings in Swannanoa.

“I said, don’t mind if I borrow a shed just to put this stuff in until I figure out where to take it. The Lord just spoke and said Do a free storefront,” said Hicks.

In November of 2024, The Blessing Project was born. 

It has now grown from one little barn to several, along with a mobile ministry. And as they prepared to help families provide for Christmas, they encountered a problem.

“We were completely out of toys, and I just thought, Lord, we don’t have the resources… financial resources, but people need it, they need some joy in their life,” said Hicks.

And that’s when Hearts and Hands for Christ Ministry Director David Rudisill from Virginia just happened to be in the area the same day and at the same time.

“I was just riding around trying to find somewhere we could do with these toys, and I saw the blessing barn. I just rode down the street,” Hearts and Hands Ministry Director David Rudisill said. “We had a few left, a small 16-foot trailer left over, and we loaded them up, and one of our team members ‘ hearts were wanting to come here,” he said.

And when he says ‘here,’ he means to find a place in Western North Carolina to give back.

“He pulled off the exit, he said the Lord led him, they drove past us, the Lord told him to turn around, he pulled in. I can’t tell you how many times that has happened in our ministry. I tell people all the time, if you want to see god work or move or his hands and feet, just come,” said Hicks.   

And after the holidays, Kristen thought the donations would stop. “I thought at the end of the year, if everything is gone, the supplies are done, we’ll stop it; it never stopped,” said Hicks.

She says the need is still there. “So currently we’re supporting 4,000 a month,” said Hicks.

That means the work will continue. “It’s been humbling, I say it every morning when we open in prayer, thank you for allowing me to be your hands and feet,” said Hicks.   

On this first anniversary of Helene, those on the front lines have one wish.

“I want to encourage people to come alongside us and recommit, that’s been our word, to the rebuilding efforts in western North Carolina,” said Hicks.  

You can learn more about The Blessing Project and make donations to their efforts by going here.