The Report
$1,000,000 Milestone
A look at the numbers from our first $1,000,000 of funding.
When Rebuild Hot Springs Area reached its first million dollars raised, it was more than a number on paper. It was shingles on rooftops, lumber in hardware stores, meals on kitchen tables, and paychecks for local crews who showed up day after day. Every dollar moved through our valley and back into the hands of neighbors, businesses, and workers who are rebuilding life here in Hot Springs.
This page outlines exactly how those funds were invested in our community—supporting homeowners, restoring businesses, strengthening emergency services, and keeping the recovery moving forward. Transparency matters, but so does the story behind the numbers. Each section shows not just what was spent, but what it meant for the people of Hot Springs.
4
Funds Developed
We set up four funds to send money where it was needed:
- Residential
- Business
- Emergency Services
- Municipal
9
Special Initiatives Created
We started nine special initiatives for needs that couldn’t wait. Six of them:
- Worker Relief Program
- Silvermine Restoration Project
- Downtown waste and sanitation remediation
- Critical assistance to local organizations
- Developing a permanent parking solution
- Reimbursements to community members
200+
Families Helped
More than 200 families got help from RHSA. Some received materials to repair their homes. Others got money to get through the weeks after the flood.
Taking Action
A Breakdown
How our funds were spent
Here is how the first million was spent.
$320k+
to Residents & Workers
More than $320,000 went to Hot Springs families and workers. It patched roofs, fixed bridges, and rebuilt walls in homes the flood damaged. It also helped workers who lost paychecks to the storm.
$525k+
to Businesses
More than $525,000 helped local businesses repair, restock, and reopen. Those businesses employ our neighbors and keep Main Street open for the visitors Hot Springs depends on.
$100k+
to Local Community Organizations, the Town of Hot Springs, and Special Initiatives
More than $100,000 went to local organizations, the Town of Hot Springs, and special initiatives. It helped organizations keep serving neighbors, gave the town tools and software for its work, and let us act fast when an urgent need came up. Backing the groups and the town that serve Hot Springs is the work we are doing more of now.
Two
Two fire trucks back in service
We paid to repair two fire trucks for the Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department. Both are back in service, ready to answer the next call without delay. Getting Hot Springs ready for the next emergency is now a standing part of our work.
Our Efficiency
99.6%
of all donations went straight back into the community
One of our proudest achievements: of the first million dollars, just 0.4% went to administration. Volunteers and local contractors kept overhead that low by giving their time, their skills, and long hours. We hold every project that comes next to the same standard.
We’re not going anywhere.
Hurricane Helene is why RHSA started. Our work now goes further. We fund projects that open new opportunities for Hot Springs, and we help the town get ready for the next emergency before it comes. Every gift, whatever its size, goes to that work.