Volunteer long‑term recovery group wins $1 million Red Cross grant to support Mitchell County rebuild

Mitchell County staff announced that a locally organized long‑term disaster recovery group received a $1,000,000 grant from the American Red Cross to support sustained recovery work in the county.

County staff described the group as a vessel to coordinate volunteer organizations of all kinds (VOADs) and provide a sustainable payroll for long‑term recovery functions, including prioritizing rebuild work for households whose homes were destroyed in the recent storm. The grant was presented as a major funding source to stand up an organization that can receive and manage donations and direct them toward rebuild efforts.

County staff said they expect additional grants to supplement the Red Cross award and that the group will be able to coordinate volunteer labor, manage donations and help scale recovery operations in the event of future storms. Staff indicated they may invite the volunteer resource coordinator, Stephanie Pittman, to a future meeting to present more details about how the grant will be used and the group’s structure.

The announcement was made during the county manager’s report and no formal board action was required to accept the grant in this meeting.