Dollywood Is Donating $1,000 a Month to Gatlinburg Fire Victims
The wildfires displaced more than 14,000 people.
Dollywood, a theme park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, partially owned by Dolly Parton, announced its plans to set up a fund for victims of recent wildfires, local news outlets reported Thursday.
We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything in the fires, Parton said in a video announcing the plan. To aid in their recovery effort, the Dollywood Foundation will provide $1,000 a month to all of those families who lost their homes in the fires for six months so that they can get back on their feet."
Wildfires in Gatlinburg earlier this week destroyed over 150 buildings and forced the evacuation of at least 14,000 people. High winds and a historic drought caused the fires that spread across Gatlinburg and nearby Pigeon Forge, both resort towns near the Smoky Mountains.
Parton's companies, including the Dollywood Theme Park, DreamMore Resort, and the Dollywood Foundation, among others, came together to create the "My People Fund" to help families displaced by this natural disaster.
Dollywood isnt the only local entity that has looked to help the community rebuild in the wake of the fires. The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce announced their Gatlinburg Relief Fund in partnership with a local bank that allows people to donate to community efforts in rebuilding.
Other local groups, including the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and Remote Area Medical, are collecting and distributing funds and resources for those affected.
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