Parton has donated a significant amount to the clean-up efforts in East Tennessee
Dolly Parton has donated $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) dedicated to assisting Hurricane Helene flood victims. In addition, Dolly’s East Tennessee businesses — Dollywood Parks & Resorts, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, and Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show— as well as The Dollywood Foundation are combining efforts and have pledged to match her donation to Mountain Ways with a $1 million contribution of their own.
“These are special people here; they’re my people,” Dolly shared during a press conference at an East Tennessee Walmart Supercenter affected by the devestation. “I feel like all people are my people, but everyone here grew up in the mountains just like I did so of course I have a close connection to them. I can’t stand to see anyone hurting, so I wanted to do what I could to help after these terrible floods. I hope we can all be a little bit of light in the world for our friends, our neighbors — even strangers — during this dark time they are experiencing.”
Specific to Eastern Tennessee, the Walmart Foundation is making a grant to the East Tennessee Foundation. Walmart and Sam’s Club have donated water to local organizations and resources such as food and hot meals, water distributions, showers, and laundry in Walmart parking lots in Newport, Elizabethton, and Greeneville.
Since Hurricane Helene – the 14th most powerful storm in recorded history to hit the United States – made landfall, Walmart has been working constantly with local leaders and relief organizations to assess needs and quickly deliver critical aid to nearly 100 communities across the area. Essential resources such as charging stations, food and hot meals, water distributions, showers, and laundry are available at many store and club parking lots across Appalachia and the Southeast.
Across the country, Walmart and Sam’s Club customers have been looking for ways to help. As part of the $10 million commitment, Walmart and Sam’s Club launched a nationwide customer campaign, matching customer and member donations at checkout to the American Red Cross 1:1, up to $2.5 million through October 13th. The generosity from customers and members poured in quickly, and the $2.5 million match was met as of October 3rd. Fundraising for the American Red Cross will continue at Walmart and Sam’s Club and on Walmart.com through October 13th.