The Compass

WINTER 2025

We don’t usually ask for donations in our newsletters. But this winter is different.

We’re ready for our biggest year of community-led work. With a $5,000 match available through December 31, your support moves us toward a $50,000 goal faster than ever.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll share short emails highlighting the major partnerships launching in 2025 and how your support can help families stay safe, secure their land, and build long-term economic opportunity.

If you'd like to make your gift early, you can do that here:

👉 Give to support families, land, and water in eastern North Carolina
Donate here

Here’s a quick look at what’s been happening on the ground this fall — and what your support powers next.

11 Families One Step Closer to Safer Homes

This fall, we worked with NC State Coastal Dynamic Design Lab (CDDL) to help 11 households submit FEMA applications to elevate their homes out of flood risk.

These applications are long and complicated, but they can mean the difference between a home that floods, developing mold and health issues, and a home that stays dry. 

Our partners at CDDL traveled from Raleigh on numerous occasions with engineers and hydraulic modelers to evaluate homes, and volunteers have helped complete and notarize the paperwork – all at no cost to residents.

“Thank God for this - just in time!” - Merrimon resident at a home elevations meeting

Neighbors Preparing Together

In September, we partnered with the National Weather Service for the second Hurricane Preparedness Workshop that we have helped organize for North River, Laurel Road and Merrimon. Meteorologist Eric Heden visited us with essential information and tools to prepare, stay safe and plan ahead.  Approximately 80 residents turned out for hurricane information this season.

We can’t control the storm, but we can control how prepared we are. - Eric Heden

Key takeaways included:

• Water — not wind — causes most hurricane-related deaths
• Flooding, storm surge, and misinformation are major threats
• The storm's "cone" doesn’t show the full area of impact
• Building a hurricane kit gradually makes it more manageable

• Most importantly: community planning saves lives

“The hurricane preparedness forum was amazing. I learned a lot of things I had no idea about. The most informative part for me was learning how hurricane categories are based on wind speed alone. I always thought it had to do with storm surge or flooding. That really changed how I think about when to stay or evacuate. I hope to attend again next year.” – Maxine C.

What We’re Taking On in 2026 — And What You’ll Hear More About This Month

In the coming weeks, we’ll share short emails highlighting major initiatives launching in 2025 — each one designed to help families stay safely housed, protect generational land, and strengthen long-term economic opportunity.

Here’s a quick preview of what’s ahead:

• Wastewater planning for 400 households: A new partnership with the EPA through the Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap, bringing expert wastewater planning to families facing failing septic systems and rising water tables.

• Flood resilience with NC State: Our ongoing partnership to develop a community-led Floodprint outlining home elevations, nature-based stormwater solutions, and safer community spaces.

• Restoration & working lands planning: A collaboration with the Croatan Institute & the North Carolina Coastal Federation to explore restoration and sustainable land-use opportunities across 5,000 acres.

• Free continuing education classes in partnership with Carteret Community College: Free classes and resources to help families build stability through continuing education.

We’ll dig deeper into each partnership throughout the month — and share how your support can help each effort reach the families it’s designed for.

👉 If you'd like to give early and unlock the match, you can do that here.
Donate here

These partners bring the specialists.
We bring the organizing that makes their work possible.

Help Us Start 2026 Strong

This winter campaign is how we fund the on-the-ground organizing that ties all this work together.

And thanks to a generous donor, your gift before December 31 is matched up to $5,000

👉 Make a matched gift here
Donate here

Thank you for being part of this work — and for caring about these communities, this land, and this future.

With gratitude,
Kelly Garvy, Executive Director & Justin Wallace, Community Resilience Organizer
Lighthouse Environment Partners

P.S. Want to support the work in this newsletter? Every gift up to $5,000 is matched!