First checks from 'My People Fund' handed out to those impacted by Gatlinburg wildfires

by: Karissa Winstead

Posted: Dec 15, 2016 / 06:18 PM EST

Updated: Dec 15, 2016 / 06:18 PM EST

PIGEON FORGE, TN (WJHL) – To most people $1,000 dollars may not seem like a lot. But when you’ve lost everything like George Beaulieu, it means the world.

Beaulieu, along with hundreds of other people in Gatlinburg, lost everything last month to the wildfires.

“Our vehicles were lost and all our memories of my childhood,” Beaulieu said.

For the past two weeks, he and his family have been staying in a hotel. He says this help from the ‘My People Fund’ gives him hope for the future.

“It’s incredible, it’s incredible. I mean just this little amount. Because today I have to give this to where we’re staying. I owe them $900 and I have it. But now tomorrow we’ll go forward, I have it for today,” he said.

Pete Owens, Director of Public Relations for the Dollywood Company said Dolly Parton is giving those impacted from the fires $1,000 per month for 6 months to help them through this tough time. So far, nearly $9 million has been raised.

“It’s really our goal to give them the money that they need, if they qualify. And that’s what we’re trying to do and trying to love on them a little bit so that they know that people care about them and that’s what we’re here to do,” Owens said.

Millions of dollars have been donated so far, but Owens says they are still raising funds.

“We’re not really sure how many total families there are going to be we also don’t know what other critical needs are going to come up here as the recovery process moves forward,” he said.

Moving forward for hundreds of people in Gatlinburg begins today.

“Dolly thank you,” Beaulieu said. “This means more to me than anything and I wish everybody the best.”