A regional philanthropy launched by musicians Tyler Childers and Senora May is sending new support to McDowell County’s fight for safe, reliable water. The Hickman Holler Appalachian Relief Fund announced a five-year anniversary package of $500,000 in grants to grassroots organizations across Appalachia, with the McDowell County Water Crisis Campaign listed among the grantees. Local coverage this week identified the McDowell campaign as a beneficiary, showing how the funding aligns with local efforts to help families still dealing with unreliable water service or failing home systems.

The campaign is coordinated through Cross Roads United Methodist Church in Huntington, which organizes donations and events focused on assisting McDowell families. One of those events, the “Haunted Hydration Hustle” 5K, raises funds directly for the McDowell County Water Crisis.

While the relief fund’s total grant pool is public, neither the fund nor the church has released the exact amount dedicated to McDowell, and no timeline for disbursement has been provided. Prism Media has requested that information. For residents, the issue remains simple but urgent: clean water, working plumbing, and relief from the constant costs of failing systems. The broader effort involves United Methodist partners in West Virginia working with DigDeep’s Appalachian Water Project to expand access in McDowell County — a collaboration that has mobilized volunteers and resources for hard-to-reach communities.

The recognition from a well-known Appalachian relief fund could help attract even more donations and participation in local projects. What remains unknown are the measurable outcomes: how many households will be helped, what types of repairs or installations will be prioritized, and how the campaign will coordinate with existing providers and nonprofits already serving the area. Until those details are shared, residents can follow updates from Cross Roads United Methodist Church and watch for upcoming volunteer opportunities connected to the McDowell water drive. In the weeks ahead, local leaders hope the spotlight will bring long-term investment, not just short-term relief.

McDowell County officials have repeatedly cited water infrastructure as one of the region’s greatest barriers to economic recovery, affecting schools, small businesses, and housing development.

With new attention from both national donors and regional partners, there’s cautious optimism that this round of funding could spark broader cooperation — turning one local campaign into a model for how small, rural counties across Appalachia can secure clean, dependable water for generations to come.