Henderson County & Thermal Belt Habitat for Humanity

06/13/2026

Such a wonderful day made possible by our fantastic partners. ❤️

06/10/2026

A few weeks ago, Ms. Moffitt got to go back home!

We're excited to celebrate the completion of our second full home rebuild of a house destroyed by Hurricane Helene.

When the storm struck Polk County, Ms. Moffitt's home was severely damaged, leaving her without safe, sta which contributed $100k to this rebuild via tion of things before the rebuild began). Today, thanks to the support of donors, volunteers, and community partners, she has a place to call home once again.

As we hand over the keys to Ms. Moffitt's new home, we're reminded that recovery is not just about rebuilding houses. It's about restoring hope, stability, and the opportunity to move forward.

We want to give special thanks to the sponsors of this house, including the Office of Governor Josh Stein who contributed $100k to this rebuild via Habitat for Humanity of North Carolina, and The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Together, we rebuild!

06/09/2026

Join us this Friday at the Elder Abuse Awareness Event hosted by Polk County Health & Human Services!

We'll be at Stearns Park in Columbus from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., sharing information about our programs and connecting with community members. The event will also feature a resource fair and a community fun walk to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Stop by our table, say hello, and learn more about how we're helping older adults remain safe, secure, and independent in their homes through programs like Aging in Place and critical home repairs.

📍 Stearns Park, Columbus, NC
📅 Friday, June 12, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

We hope to see you there!

06/08/2026

We don't want to say "goodbye" to our wonderful volunteers from Brethren Disaster Ministries! They have been such a blessing as we finish up our 3rd full rebuild of a home destroyed by Helene, which will be dedicated in just over a week.

Safe travels, Friends, and thank you for everything you've done!

06/05/2026

Interested in learning a little bit more about our new CEO, Emily Fernald? Check out this article in the Tryon Daily Bulletin!

LANDRUM—Henderson County & Thermal Belt Habitat for Humanity has named Emily Fernald as its new chief executive officer, effective May 30. Fernald joined the organization in February as vice president […]

06/03/2026

What happens when organizations work together?

Since August, our Disaster Case Management team has helped, or is currently helping, 31 households impacted by Hurricane Helene navigate the long road to recovery.

Through partnerships coordinated by the Disaster Recovery Partnership (DRP), those families have been connected to more than $121,000 in direct financial assistance for rent, beds, debris removal, and other critical needs. They've also received non-monetary support like furniture, bedding, welcome home baskets, Christmas gifts, and other donated items that helped make recovery a little easier.

But the impact goes far beyond those numbers.

Through our coordination efforts, families have been connected with home repairs, new homes, vehicles, housing assistance, and long-term recovery support through organizations including RenewNC, Spokes of Hope, Samaritan's Purse, Red Cross, Salvation Army, IAM, WNC Conference of the United Methodist Church, Lutheran Disaster Response, Housing Assistance, and so many more!

Taken together, the value of these resources and services represents well over half a million dollars invested in helping our neighbors recover and rebuild.

Yesterday, our team had the opportunity to share these results with the Disaster Recovery Partnership. Recovery doesn't happen because of any one organization. It happens when communities come together, coordinate resources, and refuse to let their neighbors face disaster alone.

Thank you to every partner, volunteer, donor, and community member who has made this work possible.

United Way of Henderson County Samaritan's Purse
Renew NC Spokes of Hope

06/02/2026

"All the Shingle Ladies," indeed!

Last Saturday, the Women Roofers of Rutherford County joined us to put the roof on the future home of Sherry and her daughter, Jordan. This is the same home that was featured during our Women Build, where volunteers from across the community came together to build and raise the walls.

As this home takes shape, we're continuing the spirit of Women Build by highlighting the incredible skills, leadership, and hard work of women in the trades. So when it came time to install the roof, we knew exactly who to call.

We're grateful to the Women Roofers of Rutherford County for lending their expertise and helping move this project one step closer to the day Sherry and Jordan receive the keys to their new home.

Every board, every nail, and now every shingle is a reminder of what can happen when women come together to build something bigger than themselves.

Want to learn more about the incredible Women Roofers and the work they've been doing for almost 25 years? Check out this article: https://www.carolinacountry.com/story/the-charitable-women-roofers-of-rutherford-county

05/30/2026

Big conversations are happening around affordable housing in Hendersonville, and we’re encouraged to see community leaders, housing advocates, nonprofits, and local government all at the same table working toward solutions.

This week, the City of Hendersonville unveiled a new affordable housing plan featuring 48 initiatives aimed at addressing housing challenges in our community. The plan focuses on strategies like expanding housing options, improving community engagement, and finding ways to make the approval process more efficient.

We were especially proud to see our new CEO, Emily Fernald, included in the conversation. Emily shared that she was “impressed” by the city’s presentation and excited to learn more about the plan’s next steps.

At Henderson County & Thermal Belt Habitat for Humanity, we know affordable housing impacts everything, from health and education to economic stability and quality of life. We’re grateful to be part of a community that is continuing to ask hard questions, collaborate, and work toward real solutions for local families.

You can read the full article from WLOS ABC 13 below.

The city of Hendersonville unveiled 48 action steps to help meet its affordable housing needs during its 2026 Housing Summit Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

05/29/2026

A new chapter begins at Henderson County & Thermal Belt Habitat for Humanity.

We are excited to announce that tomorrow, Emily Fernald, LMSW, will officially assume the role of Chief Executive Officer for our organization. You might recognize her from a few posts recently. That's because she joined us in February as our VP of Programs! Over the past several months, we've had the opportunity to see Emily's passion, leadership, and commitment firsthand, and feel confident that she is the right choice to take the helm for the next phase of our journey.

We are thrilled to have her leading our organization as we continue to build and repair homes and help our neighbors recover and rebuild.dable housing to transform lives. From serving as an AmeriCorps member to working as the Director of Homeowner Services and Interim Executive Director at Central South Carolina Habitat, her career has been rooted in helping families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through homeownership.

We are thrilled to have her leading our organization as we continue building homes, repairing homes, and helping our neighbors recover and rebuild.

Please help us welcome Emily to her new role!

05/28/2026

After four incredible years of leadership, laughter, and dedication, we’re saying “Bon Voyage” to our President & CEO, Linda Saturno, as she heads home to Morganton to be closer to family. ❤️

This week, staff, friends, supporters, and community partners gathered at Honeysuckle Holler in downtown Hendersonville to celebrate Linda’s time with Henderson County & Thermal Belt Habitat for Humanity, sharing stories, memories, and plenty of appreciation for all she has done for our organization and community.

Under Linda’s leadership, our affiliate navigated challenges like Hurricane Helene, expanded impact in our community, and continued building safe, affordable housing for local families.

Linda, thank you for your leadership, your humor, and your commitment to Habitat’s mission. We are so grateful for the time we’ve shared with you, and we’re excited for this next chapter with your family.💙