North Carolina’s Health Secretary, Dr. Devdutta “Dev” Sangvai is checking in on several Hendersonville nonprofits nearly nine months after Helene.

Caja Solidaria is at risk of losing 90% of their funding if a first of its kind pilot health program is not included in the state’s budget.

The Healthy Opportunities Program helps Medicaid members with access to housing, food and other social health services.

Nonprofit Love and respect moved into its new facilities two weeks before Helene, tripling its space.

That made it a resource hub and put it next door to another nonprofit, Caja Solidaria.

Together, they have given out more than 1,500 meals per week.

The collaboration is relied on, but with state budget cuts, Love and Respect may not be able to count on its neighbor as heavily.

“Not having that neighbor there where we can sit down and brainstorm deficits would be absolutely detrimental,” said Love and Respect director of operations Alivea Turner.

Both nonprofits are hoping lawmakers will change their minds by June 30 and add funding for the Healthy Opportunities Program which provides a majority of their funding.

Caja Solidaria provides healthy local produce that is sourced from regional farmers to help the community.

The organization isn’t the only one who stands to lose if the funding is cut.

Local farmers who are participating with the program also rely on their funding for their farm’s lively hoods.

“If Caja Solidaria goes away, I have to let probably three people go,” Riverview Family Farm owner Thomas Riley said.

Right now, Riley only has a five-person team, near the French Broad River but he has hopes to expand his farm in the future.

If the state budget is approved without it included, Riley will have to search for 50% of his farm’s income elsewhere.