A side-by-side vehicle purchased by the Walnut Fire Department (pictured above with department personnel) made the search for a missing juvenile in Marshall, N.C., Nov. 29 and 30, 2025, much easier and faster, according to Assistant Fire Chief Mitch Hampton. In fact, the vehicle has been used multiple times in rescues in Madison County since it was purchased this past summer with $25,000 in grant dollars from the Madison County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation.

“The vehicle was a major factor in the recent search for a juvenile in Madison County,” said Hampton. “We used it to transport personnel, equipment, and bloodhounds between trails, on land which rose sometimes 650 vertical feet. Saving time and energy for exhausted personnel can make the difference in how quickly a person is found in an emergency situation.”

Hampton also said that since the vehicle is enclosed, with heat and air conditioning, it makes a big difference in the rescue victim’s comfort and recovery when they are found.

The $25,000 grant to Walnut Fire Department was part of $180,000 in Disaster Relief Funds from the North Carolina Community Foundation made available to Madison County to address Helene recovery efforts. The grants were distributed through the Madison County Community Foundation, an NCCF affiliate foundation. Also receiving disaster relief grants from NCCF’s Disaster Relief Fund in Madison County were the Community Housing Coalition ($50,000), Marshall Relief Alliance ($40,00), Rebuild Hot Springs ($40,000) and Beacon of Hope ($25,000).

In addition to the $180,000 in disaster relief funds, in 2025, the Madison County Community Foundation distributed $12,410 in grants awarded annually through an application-based process. Local organizations which received 2025 grants, in amounts between $500 and $1,510, are Big Brother Big Sister of Western North Carolina, Community Housing Coalition of Madison County, Laurel Community Center Organization, Inc., Madison County Arts Council, Mars Hill Farmers and Artisans Market, Marshall Native Gardens Initiative, Pisgah Legal Services, Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre, Special Olympics of North Carolina, and Trillium Arts. Funding from these grants comes from the affiliate’s community grantmaking fund and other local funds.

About the North Carolina Community Foundation
The North Carolina Community Foundation transforms the collective generosity of our donors into a permanent source of community support, with a focus on the state’s rural areas.

NCCF partners with donors and a network of affiliates to sustain over 1,300 endowments totaling nearly $570 million in assets. More than $338 million has been awarded as grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to students, creating stronger communities for generations to come.    

To learn more about how we turn generosity into impact, visit nccommunityfoundation.org.